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Multiple Choice
The complex resulting from complement activity that leads to cell lysis is the
A
Prostaglandin complex.
B
Leukotriene activating complex.
C
Membrane attack complex.
D
Histamine complex.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the role of the complement system in the immune response. The complement system is a part of the immune system that enhances the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear microbes and damaged cells from an organism, promote inflammation, and attack the pathogen's cell membrane.
Identify the components of the complement system. The complement system consists of a series of small proteins found in the blood, synthesized by the liver, and normally circulating as inactive precursors (pro-proteins).
Learn about the activation pathways of the complement system: the classical pathway, the lectin pathway, and the alternative pathway. Each pathway involves a cascade of protein activations that lead to the formation of the membrane attack complex (MAC).
Focus on the formation of the Membrane Attack Complex (MAC). The MAC is formed by the terminal components of the complement cascade (C5b, C6, C7, C8, and C9) and is responsible for creating pores in the cell membranes of pathogens, leading to cell lysis.
Differentiate the MAC from other complexes such as prostaglandin, leukotriene, and histamine complexes, which are involved in different biological processes like inflammation and allergic responses, not directly in cell lysis.