Complement, C3 and C4

Acute-phase protein (Acute Phase Reactants)

• Acute-phase protein is raised in inflammatory conditions.
• When there is an increase in a protein called positive acute-phase protein.
  • In the case of a decrease in the acute phase protein, it is called negative phase protein.
• The acute phase proteins (positive) are proteins whose concentration increases in the plasma, and after the disease episode is over, then it decreases and may become normal.

Complement C3 and C4 

Sample for complements

1. The venous blood of the patient is needed to prepare the serum.
2. This can be done on EDTA plasma.

Indications for the compliment, C3 and C4

1. Advised to diagnose angioedema.
2. To monitor:
   1. The patient with systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis.
   2. In post-streptococcal nephritis.
   3. In membranoproliferative nephritis.

Precautions for a sample of complement

1. C3 is very unstable at room temperature.
2. It is advised to do the test immediately.
3. Or freeze at -70 °C.

Definition of the complement system

1. The serum complement system is an important enzyme system that consists of 10% of the serum globulins.
2. The complement system has many activities, some of which are still unknown.
   1. Increase vascular permeability.
   2. Leads to chemotaxis.
   3. Give immune adherence.
   4. Helps in phagocytosis.
   5. Ultimately, immune cell lysis.

Complement, C3 and C4: Complement activation pathways

Functions of activated complements

8. In the case of antigen and antibody complexes, the complement is consumed, leading to decreased complements.
9. Complement deficiency may be:
   1. Congenital like angioedema. There is a congenital lack of a C1 – inhibitor, often called C1 esterase.
      1. The Complement system is activated, and the complement is consumed or used up, leading to a fall in the complement level.
   2. The acquired decreased level is seen in chronic diseases where there is the presence of Ag+Ab complexes leading to overactivation of the complement system, complement is consumed, and there is a fall in the level of complement e.g., serum sickness, infectious endocarditis, lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, and glomerulonephritis.
10. A decreased level of C4 suggests some defect in the classical pathway.
    1. A decreased C3 level with a normal C4 level suggests an abnormality in the alternate pathway.

Complement activation

Complement C3:

1. C3 molecular weight is 185 kD with a normal serum level of 1200 µg/mL.
2. C3 is an acute-phase protein; serum level increases by 30%.
3. C3 chromosomal location is 19 p 13.2-13.3.
4. C3, after activation, is converted into C3a and C3b.
5. C3a is an anaphylatoxin that binds to mast cells and triggers the release of histamine and other mediators’ products.
   1. This will lead to vasodilation, erythema, and swelling.
   2. This will also lead to bronchoconstriction.
   3. C3a, when injected into the skin, leads to wheel and flare.
6. C3b attaches to the antigen-antibody complex through the C3b receptor on the inflammatory cells and leads to its adherence to the following:
   1. Neutrophils.
   2. Basophils.
   3. Eosinophils.
   4. Monocytes.
   5. This will lead to enhanced opsonization of the antigen-antibody complex and phagocytosis.
   6. C3 b-coated particles also activate B-lymphocytes to produce antibodies.
   7. In the early phase of viral infection, C3b leads to the neutralization of the viruses when the antibody level is limited.
7. C3 has an important role in the classical and alternative pathways.
8. This is a major opsonin after the activation, mainly by C3b.

Uses of C3:

1. C3 is also an acute-phase protein.
2. C3 use helps in screening classical and activation of alternative complement pathways.
3. C3 may increase in subacute inflammation, biliary obstruction, corticosteroid therapy, and nephrotic syndrome.
4. C3 may be decreased in immune complex diseases, especially SLE (lupus nephritis), Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, massive necrosis, tissue injury, viremia, sepsis, infants, hypercatabolism, and hereditary deficiency.
5. It may be used in the monitoring of the SLE.

Complement C4:

1. C4 has a highly pleomorphic gene located in the HLA complex chromosome 6 (chromosome 6p21.3).
2. C4 has a molecular weight of 200 kD and a normal serum level of 600 µg/mL.
3. As an acute serum phase protein, an increase of 34% occurs. 
4. Partial deficiency of the C4 predisposes to SLE.

Uses of C4:

1. It may be decreased in immune complex diseases, e.g., SLE.
2. It may be decreased in hereditary deficiency, acute GN, infants, hereditary angioneurotic edema, and when the classical pathway is activated.
3. Normal C3 and decreased C4 indicate C4 deficiency in hereditary angioedema, SLE, and malaria.
4. Decreased C3 and C4 indicate active viral hepatitis and immune complex disease.

Deficiency of complement C3:

1. Any decrease in C3b leads to defective opsonization.
2. In C3b deficiency, Neisserial infections are very common.

C3b deficiency

3. In the case of deficiency, there are recurrent pyogenic infections, particularly due to encapsulated bacteria.
4. When it occurs in childhood, then there is a recurrent bacterial infection, mainly by the gram-negative bacteria like:
   1. Neisseria meningitidis.
   2. Enterobacter aerogenes.
   3. Escherichia coli.
   4. Haemophilus influenzae.
5. Infection with gram-positive bacteria may also occur.
6. C3 deficiency may cause:
   1. Upper and lower respiratory infections, including pneumonia.
   2. There are episodes of sinusitis.
      1. Tonsillitis.
      2. Otitis media.
   3. 26% of C3 deficiency patients may develop an autoimmune complex disease like systemic lupus erythematosus.
   4. 26% of C3 deficiency patients develop membranoproliferative or mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis. 

The deficiency of C4a and C4b is associated in:

1. Scleroderma.
2. IgA-associated nephropathy.
3. Diabetes mellitus.
4. Chronic hepatitis.
5. Membranous nephropathy.
6. Henoch schonlein purpura.
7. Complete deficiency of the C4 is rare.

What is the normal level of total complement:

• Total complement = 75 to 160 units/mL

What is the normal level of C3?

Complement C3    

• Cord serum = 65 to 111.8 mg/dL
  • Children = 86.6 to 135.8 mg/dL
• Adult  = 83 to 177 mg/dL

Source 2 

• C3 = 55 to 120 mg/dL

What is the normal level of Complement C4?

Source 1

• Cord serum  = 13.7 to 44.9 mg/dL
  • one month = 27.5 to47.3 mg/dL
  • 6 months = 30.5 to 58.7 mg/dL
• Adult  =  28.7 to 67.5 mg/dL

Source 2 

• C4 = 20 to 50 mg/dL
• (Values vary from different sources)

The decreased level of complement (C1 to C9) is seen in:

1. Congenital as seen in angioedema.
2. Autoimmune diseases like SLE, serum sickness, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and lupus nephritis.
3. Malnutrition.
4. Cirrhosis.
5. Hepatitis.
6. Acute kidney transplant rejection.
7. In the case of septicemia (sepsis).

The increased level of complements (C1 to C9) is seen in:

1. Acute rheumatic fever.
2. Ulcerative colitis.
3. Acute myocardial infarction.
4. Malignant tumors.

Acute-phase proteins and their value in acute and chronic inflammation:

Table showing Positive and Negative acute phase protein:

Questions and answers: