Complement C5

Function

Complement C5 (CC5) is the fifth component of the complement system. The complement system is part of the innate immune system. CC5 is composed of α chain (C5a) and β chain (C5b). Proteoplytic degradation of CC5 produces which is a mediator of local inflammatory process. The C terminal domain of CC5 (residues 1530-1676) is homologous to a domain in netrins and is named . Activation of CC5 by C5 convertase initiates the assembly of the C5 to C9 components into the membrane attack complex. ^[1]

Disease

Mutations in CC5 cause a deficiency leading to severe recurrent infections and are linked to liver fibrosis, Leiner's disease and rheumatoid arthritis.