Composante complémentaire 3

Complement component 3 (C3) is the central and most abundant complement protein, serving as the converging point of the classical, lectin, and alternative pathways. Proteolytic cleavage by any C3 convertase releases the anaphylatoxin C3a and deposits C3b on target surfaces, where C3b acts as an opsonin, drives amplification through the alternative pathway, and seeds formation of C5 convertases. Further processing generates iC3b, C3dg, and C3d, which engage complement receptors such as CR1, CR2, and CR3 on immune cells. The thioester bond within C3 underlies its covalent surface attachment. C3 deficiency causes severe recurrent pyogenic infections and immune-complex disease, and C3 is a key target of complement-directed drug development.