Our body's secret defense force: Let's learn everything about the Complement System!

Have you ever wondered what an amazing system works inside our bodies to protect us from diseases? Just like an army that protects a country, our bodies also have a powerful defense system called the Immune System. This system has different types of cells that are like soldiers. But there is another part that helps this main army, like a very fast, special force. That is what we call the Complement System. Today we are talking about this secret force.

Simply put, what is the Complement System?

The Complement System is part of our immune system. It's called "Complement" because it plays a very important role in "complementing" or "helping" the work of other cells in our immune system. Think of it like your best friend, always there to support you.

Simply put, this is the first line of defense in our body's defense system. It is the one that activates and issues warnings as soon as an enemy, such as a germ or bacteria, enters the body. Also, its main job is to remove injured cells after an accident and help heal those areas.

What are the main functions of this system?

This system is activated when it recognizes an external enemy (for example, a bacterium). Then, here are the main things that happen:

• Targeting enemies: They find harmful substances, such as bacteria, that have entered the body, attach to them, and tell other cells in the immune system, "This is an enemy." It's like painting an enemy's body with paint to make it easier for others to recognize.
• Causes Inflammation: When you get an injury, the area becomes red, swollen, and hot, right? That's what inflammation is. This is actually a good thing. It causes more blood to flow to the area, bringing more white blood cells to fight germs. Helping to start this process is an important function of the Complement System.
• Eliminates enemies: Once enemies are identified, this system directly contributes to their destruction. Sometimes these proteins combine to make holes in the bacterial cell wall, destroying it. They also help remove fragments of the destroyed enemies and dead cells from there.

What is this system made of? How does it work?

This amazing system is made up of proteins. It consists of about 50 proteins that float in the liquid part of our blood called plasma, and are so small that they can only be seen with a microscope. We call these plasma proteins .

These proteins are made in our liver. They then accumulate in the blood and other tissues of the body, ready to be activated at any time.

But the amazing thing is, normally these proteins are in an "inactive" state. As if they're asleep. They don't just do their job. They only wake up when the body is injured or when an enemy, like a bacterium, enters.

Cascade

The way these proteins wake up is amazing. It's like a row of dominoes falling.

Imagine you have a row of dominoes. What happens when you tap the first domino with your finger? It falls and lands on the next domino. That causes the next domino to fall. And so on and so forth until you reach the last domino, right?

The proteins in the complement system work in the same way. A trigger activates the first protein. It then activates the next protein. And then the next one... and so on, in a chain reaction. In medicine, we call this a "cascade." As each protein is activated, each one performs its own protective function and passes on the message to the next one.

What kind of diseases can develop if there is a problem with the complement system?

This system is so important to our bodies that any weakness or overactivity in it can lead to serious health problems. There are two main types of problems here:

1. Deficiency of the complement system: This means that the proteins in this system are not enough, or they are not working properly. At times like this, our immune system becomes weak. Then, the chances of developing frequent infections, especially bacterial infections, are much higher. Sometimes, these infections can become severe and even lead to life-threatening conditions like sepsis .

2. Over-activity of the complement system: This means that this system works more than it should. It is activated frequently for no reason. When this happens, this system starts attacking not only the enemies that have entered the body, but also its own healthy cells. We call this autoimmune diseases .

What could be the symptoms of this kind of problem?

If the complement system is not working properly, your immune system becomes weak, and you may develop symptoms like these.

If you have these symptoms, especially if they occur frequently , don't worry about it and definitely see your doctor .

What tests are performed to check the health of this system?

If a doctor suspects this system based on your symptoms, they can perform several tests to confirm it.

The most important test is a blood test called a complement test . This involves taking a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm and measuring the amount of complement proteins in it and how well they are working.

These tests can help your doctor find things like:

• Why do you get infections so often?
• What causes your autoimmune disease and how effective are its treatments?
• How is the overall health of your immune system?

In addition, other tests may be performed, such as a complete blood count and immunoglobulin levels.

What are you doing as treatment?

Treatment depends on the problem you have, whether it's a deficiency or an overactivity of the system. The main goal of treatment is to control symptoms and balance the functioning of the system.

• Antibiotics: Antibiotics are given to treat and prevent frequent bacterial infections due to a weakened immune system.
• Immunosuppressive therapy: If you have an autoimmune disease where the system becomes overactive and attacks your own body, these drugs are given to slow down the immune system.
• Blood or plasma transfusion: If there is a severe deficiency of complement proteins, those proteins can be introduced into the body through externally administered plasma.
• Vaccination: Due to a weakened immune system, your doctor may recommend getting a vaccine, such as pneumococcal disease , to protect you from serious infections like pneumonia.
• Chemotherapy for cancer: If the problem is related to cancer, appropriate treatment will be prescribed.

How do we keep our complement system healthy?

To be honest, you can't directly turn on/off a switch in the complement system. We can't directly change its function. But, we can keep our entire immune system strong and healthy. Then the complement system will also work well.

So, do these simple things to take good care of your entire body:

• Eat a well-balanced diet: Eat a good meal that includes vegetables, fruits, and clean proteins.
• Exercise regularly: Do at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise a day.
• Stay clean: Wash your hands thoroughly before eating and after using the toilet.
• Get enough sleep: Get at least 7-8 hours of good sleep a day. The immune system repairs itself while we sleep.
• Protect yourself from injuries: Use safety precautions when performing hazardous tasks.