Category: Pathology Principles

The complement cascade is a series of proteins produced by the liver that are activated sequentially, and ultimately result in the formation of a pore in a target cell. Along the way, the different protein components can have other effects, like chemotaxis, opsonization and interaction with the immune system.

Autoimmune diseases occur when there is failure of self-tolerance, leading to the immune system reacting to its own cells. The most studied of these is systemic lupus erythematosus, although many other autoimmune diseases exist.