The complement system as a therapeutic target

The complement pathway plays key roles in host defence, but its excessive activation or dysregulation can lead to a variety of disorders. This poster overviews strategies to therapeutically intervene in the pathway and the new generation of complement inhibitors that are now in the clinic.

The complement system has a pivotal role in immunosurveillance and its dysregulation is involved in a variety of diseases. Here, Lambris and colleagues provide an overview of the pathological roles of the complement system in acute and chronic disorders, assessing recent developments in complement drug discovery, while highlighting the associated opportunities and challenges.

The complement system has a key role in inflammatory reactions that occur before, during and after transplantation. Here, the authors discuss this role and highlight current and future strategies to regulate complement activation and potentially improve outcomes in kidney transplantation.

In this review, the authors evaluate the association of complement activation with a variety of rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and small-vessel vascultis, and discuss whether complement inhibition has therapeutic potential in these diseases.

Anaemia, thrombosis and smooth muscle dystonias are manifestations of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria, a rare but potentially life-threatening haematological disorder. Inhibition of complement activation is the treatment of choice; stem cell transplantation is recommended for patients who also develop severe bone marrow failure.