Complement Activation

. Complement activation is a vital arm of the immune system, triggering a cascade of reactions to eliminate pathogens and other foreign bodies. It helps protect the body from infection and other diseases. When a pathogen enters the body, it triggers the release of antibodies. These antibodies bind to the pathogen, activating the complement system. This triggers a series of reactions, including the formation of membrane attack complexes, which punch holes in the pathogen's membrane, killing it. Complement activation is also used as a diagnostic tool to identify certain diseases such as lupus. It can also be used to assess the efficacy of certain treatments such as tissue plasminogen activator, used to treat stroke and heart attack.