Modulation of the immune response by anaphylatoxins.

Bioactive C3a and C5a fragments derived from the human complement compounds C3 and C5, respectively, possess immunoregulatory activities. C3a and C5a differentially influence in vitro immune function. C3a was found to be a potent suppressor of antigen-specific and polyclonal antibody responses. In contrast, C3a was unable to suppress antigen-or mitogen-induced B and T cell proliferation. Analyses of synthetic peptides based on the sequences of C3a revealed that the carboxy-terminal region of the molecule is responsible for immunosuppression. C3a-mediated suppression occurs through the activation of a nonspecific suppressor T cell pathway. In contrast to the results obtained with C3a, C5a was found to augment both in vitro humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Regulation of immune function by complement components may form part of an in vitro nonspecific immunoregulatory network.