Role and mechanism of complement in ischemia reperfusion injury

Complement system is activated by all kinds of pathways in ischemia reperfusion(I/R),which results in the formation of many activated fragments.These fragments play an important role in ischemia reperfusion injury.Through direct attack and indirect influence on neutrophil and vascular endothelium,tissue and organ are injured by them.There are a lot of inhibitors of complement at present,however,few of which was applied clinically.The author now give an review on the pathways of complement activation in I/R,mechanism of activated complement components mediated tissue injury and prevention and treatment using complement inhibitors in I/R injury.