InVivoPro Anti-Mouse C5 in vivo antibody，Clone BB5.1

The monoclonal antibody BB5.1 binds the fifth component of mouse complement (C5). The complement system is a group of plasma and cell membrane proteins that play a key role in the immune system. All three pathways (classical, alternative & lectin) lead to the cleavage of C3 and eventually the formation of the cytolytic membrane attack complex C5b-9. If the activation cascade is allowed to proceed beyond the cleaving of C3 into C3a and C3b, an additional C3b molecule binds to the C3 convertases. This generates the C5 convertase (C3bBbC3b for the alternative pathway and C4bC2bC3b for the classical and lectin pathways). C5 convertase cleaves C5, releases the potent anaphylactic peptide C5a and generates C5b. C5b can initiate the terminal pathway , which recruits the components C6, C7, C8 and C9 to the surface of the target and inserts the C9 complex as a pore (termed the terminal complement complex) into the membrane. C5a is the most potent anaphylatoxin and a powerful chemotaxin for neutrophils and monocytes, with the ability to promote margination, extravasation, and activation of these cells. Thus, blocking C5 may be required for optimal inhibition of the inflammatory response. At the same time, inhibition of the complement cascade at C5 does not impair the generation of C3b through the classical and alternative pathways, preserving C3b-mediated opsonization of pathogenic microorganisms as well as opsonization and solubilization of immune complexes.