Main description:

The Third Aegean Conferences Workshop on Complement-Associated Diseases, Animal Models, and Therapeutics convened to discuss progress in complement research as it pertains to human disease pathogenesis and therapeutics. The rapid pace of research and new experimental approaches allow an integrated view of the in vivo biology of the complement system. This book collects writings on the functions of complement, pathophysiology, protein structures, design of complement inhibitors, and complement assays discussed at the conference.

Contents:

Cross-Disciplinary Research Stirs New Challenges into the Study of the Structure, Function and Systems Biology of Complement.- Liver Regeneration: A Link to Inflammation through Complement.- The Role of Third Complement Component (C3) in Homing of Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells into Bone Marrow.- Complement System and the Eye.- To Regeneration ... with Complement.- Self, Non-Self, and Danger: A Complementary View.- gC1qR/p33 Serves as a Molecular Bridge between the Complement and Contact Activation Systems and Is an Important Catalyst in Inflammation.- Possible Immunoprotective and Angiogenesis-Promoting Roles for Malignant Cell-Derived Prostasomes: A New Paradigm for Prostatic Cancer?.- Diversified Components of the Bony Fish Complement System: More Genes for Robuster Innate Defense?.- C5b-9 Complement Complex in Autoimmune Demyelination: Dual Role in Neuroinflammation and Neuroprotection.- The Double-Edged Flower: Roles of Complement Protein C1q in Neurodegenerative Diseases.- The Role of the Complement System in the Pathogenesis of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis and Multiple Sclerosis.- The Complement System: A Potential Target for Stroke Therapy.- Observations on Complement Activity in the Two-Stage Inflammatory/Hemostatic Response in the Baboon and Human Models of E. Coli Sepsis and Endotoxemia.- Complement Activation During Sepsis in Humans.- Three Distinct Profiles of Serum Complement C4 Proteins in Pediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Patients: Tight Associations of Complement C4 and C3 Protein Levels in SLE but not in Healthy Subjects.- A Minimum CR2 Binding Domain of C3d Enhances Immunity Following Vaccination.- Structure and Function of Ficolins.- Role of Mannose-Binding Lectin (MBL2) Genotyping in Predicting the Risk of Recurrent Otitis Media (rOM).- Conformational Complexity of Complement Component C3.- Disease-Associated Sequence Variations in Factor H: A Structural Biology Approach.- Transdermal Pharmacology of Small Molecule Cyclic C5a Antagonists.- Inactivation of Complement by Recombinant Human C3 Derivatives.- Complement Analysis in Clinic and Research.- Cell-Bound Complement Activation Products (CB-CAPs) as a Source of Lupus Biomarkers.