Authors: Peng, Qi; Li, Ke; Sacks, Steven H.; Zhou, Wuding

Source: Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets, Volume 8, Number 3, July 2009 , pp. 236-246(11)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

C3a and C5a, the small (∼10KDa) cleavage fragments released by complement activation, are potent mediators of inflammation. They are anaphylatoxins and act as cell activators with nanomolar affinity, exerting their functions through binding to specific receptors (C3aR and C5aR or C5L2 respectively). Recent studies suggest that locally generated complement effector molecules including C3a and C5a contribute to pathological processes in inflammatory and immunological diseases as well as adaptive immune response besides its host defence mechanism. Targeting the receptors and/or their ligands can reduce undesired inflammatory responses and tissue damage in certain pathological conditions. In this article we describe the recent developments in this important area and focus on the role of C3a/C5a in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and in adaptive immune responses.

Keywords: Anaphylatoxins; C3a; C5a; C3a receptor; C5a receptor; local synthesis of complement; inflammation; innate and adaptive immune regulation

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152809788681038

Publication date: 2009-07-01

More about this publication?

• Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets aims to cover all the latest and outstanding developments on the medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology, genomics and biochemistry of contemporary molecular targets involved in inflammation and allergy e.g. disease specific proteins, receptors, enzymes, genes. Each issue of the journal contains a series of timely in-depth reviews written by leaders in the field covering a range of current topics on drug targets involved in inflammation and allergy. As the discovery, identification, characterization and validation of novel human drug targets for anti-inflammation and allergy drug discovery continues to grow, this journal has become essential reading for all pharmaceutical scientists involved in drug discovery and development.

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