Published online Sep 26, 2015. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v7.i8.1090
Peer-review started: November 29, 2014
First decision: January 20, 2015
Revised: July 3, 2015
Accepted: July 24, 2015
Article in press: July 27, 2015
Published online: September 26, 2015
Processing time: 302 Days and 8.1 Hours
The complement pathway is best known for its role in immune surveillance and inflammation. However, its ability of opsonizing and removing not only pathogens, but also necrotic and apoptotic cells, is a phylogenetically ancient means of initiating tissue repair. The means and mechanisms of complement-mediated tissue repair are discussed in this review. There is increasing evidence that complement activation contributes to tissue repair at several levels. These range from the chemo-attraction of stem and progenitor cells to areas of complement activation, to increased survival of various cell types in the presence of split products of complement, and to the production of trophic factors by cells activated by the anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a. This repair aspect of complement biology has not found sufficient appreciation until recently. The following will examine this aspect of complement biology with an emphasis on the anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a.
Core tip: This review article provides an overview over the scenarios, where complement activation contributes to tissue repair and regeneration through its effect on stem and progenitor cells, which is an area that needs further investigation.