The complement cascade, which has two pathways, increases inflammation, opsonizes pathogens—labels them for destruction—and directly kills invaders through lysis, which means rupturing their cell ...

The complement system has more than 50 soluble and membrane-bound proteins. In innate and adaptive immunity, complement is essential for eliminating foreign pathogens and apoptotic cells. It is also ...

Researchers have deciphered the complex interplay of various enzymes around the innate immune receptor toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7), which plays an important role in defending our bodies against ...

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American The very first line of defence against any ...

When a transplanted organ arrives, it’s like a controlled burn that risks becoming a wildfire. The body’s innate immune system senses damage signals, like heat shock proteins (HSP70), and sounds the ...

In a recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers reviewed selected acute-phase proteins concerning their production, structure, and function. The advent of severe acute ...

Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2008;4(3):379-390. Since there are no genetic deficiencies of CRP in man, animal models have been used to study the role of CRP in inflammatory disease. Two methods have been ...

Scientists generally agree that eukaryotes, the domain of life whose cells contain nuclei and that includes almost all multicellular organisms, originated from a process involving the symbiotic union ...

Trained immunity enhances innate immune responses, yet a Western lifestyle may lead to maladaptive trained immunity and drive non-communicable diseases.