Complement Component 4a (C4a)
Complement Component 4a (C4a) is a small-molecule polypeptide anaphylatoxin generated by the cleavage of complement component C4 by corresponding proteases during the activation of the classical and lectin pathways of the complement system, and it belongs to an intermediate product of complement activation.
It possesses both weak anaphylatoxic activity and immunochemotactic function, and is involved in the body’s inflammatory response and immune regulation processes. Changes in its serum levels can also serve as a reference indicator for the auxiliary diagnosis of certain diseases.
Research Directions
1. Disease Diagnosis and Prognostic Biomarkers
Investigate the correlation between serum C4a levels and autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis), infectious diseases (sepsis, viral infections), and cardiovascular diseases (atherosclerosis), and explore its potential as a biomarker for early disease diagnosis, disease activity assessment, and prognostic judgment.
2. Therapeutic Targets for Inflammatory and Immune-related Diseases
Design antagonists or neutralizing antibodies targeting C4a and its receptors (C3aR/C5aR) to inhibit overactivated complement responses, thereby developing novel immunomodulators for autoimmune diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, and other disorders.
3. Regulatory Mechanisms of the Complement System
Explore the precise regulatory role of C4a in complement activation pathways, as well as its interactions with other complement fragments (C3a, C5a) and cytokine networks, to improve the understanding of the cross-linking mechanisms between the complement system, innate immunity, and adaptive immunity.
4. The Role of C4a in the Tumor Microenvironment
Analyze the expression characteristics of C4a in tumor tissues, study its regulatory effects on tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor-associated immune cells (e.g., tumor-associated macrophages), and explore new strategies for complement-targeted tumor immunotherapy
It possesses both weak anaphylatoxic activity and immunochemotactic function, and is involved in the body’s inflammatory response and immune regulation processes. Changes in its serum levels can also serve as a reference indicator for the auxiliary diagnosis of certain diseases.
Research Directions
1. Disease Diagnosis and Prognostic Biomarkers
Investigate the correlation between serum C4a levels and autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis), infectious diseases (sepsis, viral infections), and cardiovascular diseases (atherosclerosis), and explore its potential as a biomarker for early disease diagnosis, disease activity assessment, and prognostic judgment.
2. Therapeutic Targets for Inflammatory and Immune-related Diseases
Design antagonists or neutralizing antibodies targeting C4a and its receptors (C3aR/C5aR) to inhibit overactivated complement responses, thereby developing novel immunomodulators for autoimmune diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, and other disorders.
3. Regulatory Mechanisms of the Complement System
Explore the precise regulatory role of C4a in complement activation pathways, as well as its interactions with other complement fragments (C3a, C5a) and cytokine networks, to improve the understanding of the cross-linking mechanisms between the complement system, innate immunity, and adaptive immunity.
4. The Role of C4a in the Tumor Microenvironment
Analyze the expression characteristics of C4a in tumor tissues, study its regulatory effects on tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor-associated immune cells (e.g., tumor-associated macrophages), and explore new strategies for complement-targeted tumor immunotherapy
