👉 The complement fluid, also known as C3 convertase, is a crucial component of the innate immune system, primarily produced by activated complement proteins (C1-C9). It plays a central role in the amplification and regulation of the complement cascade, a series of enzymatic reactions that enhance the ability to clear pathogens and cellular debris. When complement proteins are activated, they form a complex that cleaves C3 into C3a and C3b. C3b then binds to pathogens, marking them for destruction by phagocytes, while C3a acts as an anaphylatoxin, promoting inflammation and attracting immune cells to the site of infection. This fluid is essential for both the early and late stages of the complement response, contributing to pathogen clearance and immune defense.
