RESUMO
A novel regulator of the alternative complement pathway with functions similar to that of factor H has been identified in human plasma. The cDNA encoding this factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1/reconectin) was isolated several years ago. Here, Peter Zipfel and Christine Skerka describe functional analyses revealing that this novel complement regulatory protein forms a molecular link between immune defense and cell adhesion.
Assuntos
Adesão Celular , Fator H do Complemento/fisiologia , Via Alternativa do Complemento , Animais , Domínio Catalítico/fisiologia , Cromossomos Humanos Par 1/genética , Fator H do Complemento/genética , Humanos , Streptococcus pyogenes/metabolismo , Streptococcus pyogenes/patogenicidadeRESUMO
Recently, several factor-H-related molecules have been identified in humans and mice, initiating new interest in this group of serum proteins. Although no complement-regulatory activity has been demonstrated yet for the human factor-H-related proteins, the immunological and structural similarities to factor H suggest overlapping functions. Here, Peter Zipfel and Christine Skerka review these similarities and suggest a new nomenclature to identify members of the factor-H-related family.
