Indicators
A heterotrimeric protein complex composed of complement component 8 (C8) chains alpha, beta and gamma. The alpha and gamma chains form a disulfide-linked dimer that is noncovalently associated with the beta chain. C8 inserts itself into target cell membranes following formation of the C5b-6-7 complex and then recruits 10-16 molecules of C9 to complete the formation of the membrane attack complex.
Indicators
Complement component C9 (559 aa, ~63 kDa) is encoded by the human C9 gene. This protein plays a role in complement-mediated bacterial cell lysis.
Indicators
Complement component-4 (1744 aa, ~193 kDa) is part of the complement cascade, which mediates the innate immune response to infection. The full length protein is a precursor that is secreted as a trimeric molecule containing an alpha, beta and gamma chain. When the complement cascade is initiated, the protein is cleaved. This proteolysis releases both the alpha chain, C4 anaphylatoxin, which stimulates inflammation, and a dimer of the beta and gamma chains, which mediates the interaction between the antigen-antibody complex and other complement components.
Tests
The determination of the amount of complement iC3b in a sample.
For professionals
Tests
The determination of the amount of complement present in a sample.
For professionals
Tests
The determination of the free complement C2 present in a sample.
For professionals
Tests
The hormone detected by pregnancy tests; also used in medicine to assess certain pregnancies and tumours.
For everyone & professionals
Indicators
IgA is the immunoglobulin subclass that is associated with antibody-mediated mucosal immunity. It is secreted as dimers into the mucosa and is the most effective isotype at fixing complement by the alternative pathway, even though it lacks the ability to fix complement by the classical pathway. There are two subtypes in the human - IgA1 and IgA2.
Indicators
The most abundant immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclass in the circulation of healthy individuals. The IgG1 core hinge sequence contains 15 amino acids and two interchain disulfide bonds. This subtype has high affinity for binding both Fc receptors and complement component C1q. IgG1 is the predominant antibody subclass that responds to antigens derived from both soluble and membrane proteins. Reduced levels of circulating IgG1 can indicate the presence of a variety of primary and secondary antibody deficiencies, which can result in hypogammaglobulinemia.
Indicators
The second most abundant immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclass in the circulation of healthy individuals. The IgG2 core hinge sequence contains 12 amino acids and up to four interchain disulfide bonds. This subtype has low affinity for binding both Fc receptors and complement component C1q. The production of this IgG2 is stimulated by exposure to bacterial capsular polysaccharides and other antigenic glycans.
Indicators
Along with the immunoglobulin G4 subclass (IgG4), the IgG3 subtype makes up a minor part of circulating antibodies in healthy individuals. The core hinge sequence contains approximately four times the number of amino acids as the other subclasses; allotypes of IgG3 can have up to 62 hinge residues and up to four interchain disulfide bonds. The increased hinge size for IgG3 increases the separation between the Fc (constant fragment) tail and Fab (antigen binding fragment) arms of antibodies of this subclass. This enhances the relative flexibility of the molecule, which may modulate antigen-binding capacity and immune complex formation, and may increase the affinity for binding to both Fc receptors and complement component C1q.
Indicators
Along with the immunoglobulin G3 subclass (IgG3), the IgG4 subtype makes up a minor part of circulating antibodies in healthy individuals. The IgG4 core hinge sequence contains 12 amino acids and two interchain disulfide bonds.This subtype has moderate affinity for binding Fc receptors and does not bind complement component C1q. The production of IgG4 can be stimulated following repeated or long-term exposure to antigen. Elevated levels are found in various diseases and infections and can be indicative of an fibroinflammatory syndrome known as IgG4-related disease.