Fig. 1.

The three pathways of complement activation. Classical, lectin and alternative pathways converge at the point of C3 activation. The lytic pathway then leads to the assembly of the membrane attack complex that destroys infectious agents. Regulators of the alternative pathway CFH, CFI and MCP cooperate to inactivate endothelial cell surface-bound C3b, thus protecting endothelial cells from complement attack. CFH, factor H; CFI, factor I; CFB, factor B; CFD, factor D; MCP, membrane cofactor protein. Adapted with permission from C Loirat and V Frémeaux-Bacchi [2].