C5 Antibody

C5a is a protein fragment released from complement component C5. The protein plays an important role in inflammatory and cell killing processes. C5 is comprised of alpha and beta polypeptide chains that are linked by a disulfide bridge. An activation peptide, C5a, which is an anaphylatoxin that possesses potent spasmogenic and chemotactic activity, is derived from the alpha polypeptide via cleavage with a convertase. C5a plays a key role in increasing migration and adherence of neutrophils and monocytes to vessel walls. Mutations in this gene cause complement component 5 deficiency, a disease where patients show a propensity for severe recurrent infections. Defects in this gene have also been linked to susceptibility to liver fibrosis and to rheumatoid arthritis.