ABSTRACT
Bob joined the MRC Immunochemistry Unit, within the Department of Biochemistry at Oxford University, as a D [...].
Subject(s)
Immunochemistry/history , Complement System Proteins/history , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , United KingdomABSTRACT
With great sadness and sympathy for his family, especially for his wife and companion for many decades, Sylvia, I convey the news of the peaceful passing of Professor Sir Peter Lachmann on 26 December 2020, three days after his 89th birthday and after a Christmas celebration-as far as this was possible these days-in the heart of his family [...].
Subject(s)
Complement System Proteins , Mentors , Awards and Prizes , Complement System Proteins/history , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
The discovery of the complement system was associated with the creation of medical serodiagnosis in the early 20th century. Its biotechnological applications, usable even a century after its development by Jules Bordet, preceded for decades the proof of its biochemical rather than biophysical nature. Complement science has begun to emerge, thanks to the labs of Michael Heidelberger and his student Manfred Martin Mayer. Complementology had known difficult moments like the suicide of Louis Pillemer by swallowing the reagents of his laboratory following the criticisms of his discovery by Robert A. Nelson, Jr., in March 1957, at the Walter Reed Army Institute. This alternative complement pathway continues to revolutionize medicine by its implications as the principal component of immunosurveillance and as an amplification loop for plasma proteolytic cascades. Moreover, the drug designed in pathologies related to this pathway, eculizumab, was the most expensive drug in the world at the beginning of its marketing. Complementology promises great hopes in inflammatory and degenerative diseases, regenerative medicine, transplantation, and vector nanotechnology and as a diagnostic tool primarily in transplantation and inflammatory imaging. The moral and historical responsibility requires to make known this legacy to the new generation of doctors and scientists and also the technicians of the clinical laboratory of complementology throughout the world.
Subject(s)
Complement System Proteins/history , Nobel Prize , Anniversaries and Special Events , Complement System Proteins/immunology , History, 20th Century , HumansABSTRACT
A single encounter with a dialysis patient led to the study of complement and neutrophil aggregation, which in turn spawned our work and the remarkable development of the field of vascular biology. As our understanding of these cellular interactions and the signaling pathways involved in these processes has expanded, so has our appreciation for the broad impact of this work on an array of human diseases.
Subject(s)
Complement System Proteins/metabolism , Neutrophils/metabolism , Oxidants/metabolism , Acute Lung Injury/etiology , Acute Lung Injury/immunology , Complement Activation , Complement System Proteins/history , Complement System Proteins/physiology , Dialysis/adverse effects , Dialysis/history , Endothelium/immunology , Endothelium/pathology , History, 20th Century , Humans , Lung/blood supply , Lung/immunology , Lung/pathology , Neutrophil Activation , Neutrophils/immunology , Neutrophils/physiologySubject(s)
Complement System Proteins/history , Glomerulonephritis, IGA/history , Typhlitis/history , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1/genetics , Complement System Proteins/genetics , Genetic Markers/genetics , Glomerulonephritis, IGA/genetics , History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , Humans , Periodicals as Topic/history , Publishing/history , Recurrence , Societies, Medical/history , United KingdomABSTRACT
The scientific career and research contributions of Hans J. Müller-Eberhard to the field of complement research are presented in historical context, and interpreted with regard to the state of the field and the research technologies available when the contributions were made.
Subject(s)
Complement System Proteins/history , Research , Animals , Complement System Proteins/analysis , Complement System Proteins/isolation & purification , History, 20th Century , Humans , United StatesABSTRACT
Complement activity was first described in the 1890s and the characterisation of this highly complex system has continued ever since. This review traces the history of complement research from its beginnings until it was transformed by the advent of molecular biology in the 1980s. It takes as a focus point the CIBA symposium on Complement held in London in May 1964 and reflects-and is slanted by-the views and research experience of the author.
Subject(s)
Complement System Proteins/history , Molecular Biology , Feedback, Physiological/immunology , Hemolysis/immunology , History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , Humans , ResearchSubject(s)
Anaphylatoxins/metabolism , Complement Activation/physiology , Complement System Proteins/metabolism , Anaphylatoxins/history , Animals , Complement System Proteins/history , History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , Humans , Inflammation/history , Inflammation/metabolismSubject(s)
Complement System Proteins/immunology , Sea Urchins/immunology , Animals , Biological Evolution , Complement System Proteins/chemistry , Complement System Proteins/genetics , Complement System Proteins/history , Expressed Sequence Tags , History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , Sea Urchins/geneticsABSTRACT
After a brief review of the history of the complement system from the original observations in the 1880s, the history of complement genetics is outlined, beginning in 1919 with the recognition of the complement-deficient guinea pig. A highly personal view is then presented of the early days of the discovery of human complement structural gene polymorphisms and deficiencies, particularly those of C3, BF and factor I. Finally, some recent work based on features in the DNA of the MHC-encoded complement genes is outlined that sheds some light on their evolution.
