The role of complement in experimental infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Einleitung: The complement cascade is known as an ancient danger sensing mechanism of the innate immune system. While originally described to be important for opsonization, lysis of pathogens and early inflammatory responses during the past years its relevance for regulating the adaptive immune response has been ascribed for complement. Mannose binding lectin (MBL) belongs to the collectin family and activates complement systemically by initiation of the lectin pathway by binding of carbohydrates on the pathogenic surface. The anaphylatoxin receptors C3aR and C5aR are expressed on cells of the innate and adaptiv…