C3 plays a central role in the activation of the complement system. Its processing by C3 convertase is the central reaction in both classical and alternative complement pathways. After activation C3b can bind covalently, via its reactive thioester, to cell surface carbohydrates or immune aggregates. Derived from proteolytic degradation of complement C3, C3a anaphylatoxin is a mediator of local inflammatory process. In chronic inflammation, acts as a chemoattractant for neutrophils. It induces the contraction of smooth muscle, increases vascular permeability and causes histamine release from mast cells and basophilic leukocytes. A rare defect of the complement classical pathway. Patients develop recurrent, severe, pyogenic infections because of ineffective opsonization of pathogens. Some patients may also develop autoimmune disorders, such as arthralgia and vasculitic rashes, lupus-like syndrome and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.
Background References
1. Hao W et al. Gut dysbiosis induces the development of depression-like behavior through abnormal synapse pruning in microglia-mediated by complement C3. Microbiome. 2024 Feb
2. Xu L et al. Inhibition of complement C3 signaling ameliorates locomotor and visual dysfunction in autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Mol Ther. 2023 Sep
Tissue Specificity
Plasma. The acylation stimulating protein (ASP) is expressed in adipocytes and released into the plasma during both the fasting and postprandial periods.
Post-translational Modification
C3b is rapidly split in two positions by factor I and a cofactor to form iC3b (inactivated C3b) and C3f which is released. Then iC3b is slowly cleaved (possibly by factor I) to form C3c (beta chain + alpha' chain fragment 1 + alpha' chain fragment 2), C3dg and C3f. Other proteases produce other fragments such as C3d or C3g. C3a is further processed by carboxypeptidases to release the C-terminal arginine residue generating the acylation stimulating protein (ASP). Levels of ASP are increased in adipocytes in the postprandial period and by insulin and dietary chylomicrons.; (Microbial infection) C3 is cleaved by Staphylococcus aureus aureolysin; this cleavage renders C3a and C3b inactive. C3b is rapidly degraded by host factors CFH and CFI preventing its deposition on the bacterial surface while C3a is further inactivated by aureolysin.; Phosphorylated by FAM20C in the extracellular medium.
Western blot analysis of Complement C3 on different lysates with Rabbit anti-Complement C3 antibody (ET1702-99) at 1/1,000 dilution.
Lane 1: Human liver tissue lysate Lane 2: HepG2 cell lysate Lane 3: HeLa cell lysate Lane 4: Mouse liver tissue lysate Lane 5: Mouse spleen tissue lysate Lane 6: Rat liver tissue lysate Lane 7: Rat spleen tissue lysate
Lysates/proteins at 30 µg/Lane.
Predicted band size: 187 kDa Observed band size: 108/37 kDa
Exposure time: 1 minute;
4-20% SDS-PAGE gel.
Proteins were transferred to a PVDF membrane and blocked with 5% NFDM/TBST for 1 hour at room temperature. The primary antibody (ET1702-99) at 1/1,000 dilution was used in 5% NFDM/TBST at 4℃ overnight. Goat Anti-Rabbit IgG - HRP Secondary Antibody (HA1001) at 1/50,000 dilution was used for 1 hour at room temperature.
Immunocytochemistry analysis of HepG2 cells labeling Complement C3 with Rabbit anti-Complement C3 antibody (ET1702-99) at 1/100 dilution.
Cells were fixed in 100% precooled methanol for 5 minutes at room temperature, then blocked with 1% BSA in 10% negative goat serum for 1 hour at room temperature. Cells were then incubated with Rabbit anti-Complement C3 antibody (ET1702-99) at 1/100 dilution in 1% BSA in PBST overnight at 4 ℃. Goat Anti-Rabbit IgG H&L (iFluor™ 488, HA1121) was used as the secondary antibody at 1/1,000 dilution. PBS instead of the primary antibody was used as the secondary antibody only control. Nuclear DNA was labelled in blue with DAPI.
Beta tubulin (M1305-2, red) was stained at 1/100 dilution overnight at +4℃. Goat Anti-Mouse IgG H&L (iFluor™ 594, HA1126) was used as the secondary antibody at 1/1,000 dilution.
Flow cytometric analysis of HepG2 cells labeling Complement C3.
Cells were fixed and permeabilized. Then stained with the primary antibody (ET1702-99, 1μg/mL) (red) compared with Rabbit IgG Isotype Control (green). After incubation of the primary antibody at +4℃ for an hour, the cells were stained with a iFluor™ 488 conjugate-Goat anti-Rabbit IgG Secondary antibody (HA1121) at 1/1,000 dilution for 30 minutes at +4℃. Unlabelled sample was used as a control (cells without incubation with primary antibody; black).
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