Editorial: Complement in the Development and Regeneration of the Nervous System

The complement system is part of the immune system that protects against pathogens. Complement factors are expressed throughout the body, including in the central nervous system (CNS). They control aspects of CNS development, health, injury and disease. In C3aR-/- mice, abnormalities in the organization and morphology of the adult neocortex, amygdala, and hippocampus have been observed. These structural abnormalities are associated with motor hyperactivity and altered cognitive functions including short-term memory deficits. Sublytic amounts of C5b-9 also decorate neurons and glial cells to control physiological and pathological processes. Newly differentiated OLGs exposed to sublytic C5b-9 increase expression of NT2/CSPG4, a marker for OLG precursor cells (OPCs), and initiate cell cycle activation.

• 1
  C3aR-/- mice have abnormalities in the organization and morphology of the adult neocortex, amygdala, and hippocampus, associated with motor hyperactivity and altered cognitive functions including short-term memory deficits.
• 2
  Sublytic C5b-9 increases expression of NT2/CSPG4, a marker for OLG precursor cells, and initiates cell cycle activation in newly differentiated OLGs. It also decreases expression of mature OLG markers, e.g. myelin basic protein.
• 3
  Toxoplasma infection triggers expression of genes coding for complement factors C3 and C1q, C3aR and C5aR1, properdin (CFP) and factorB (CFB) in an in vivo mouse model and in vitro primary glial cell cultures.