Impaired mast cell-dependent natural immunity in complement C3-deficient mice

Abstract
The complement system is widely regarded as essential for normal inflammation, not least because of its ability to activate mast cells1,2,3,4,5. However, recent studies have called into question the importance of complement in several examples of mast cell-dependent inflammatory responses6,7,8,9. To investigate the role of complement in mast cell-dependent natural immunity, we examined the responses of complement-deficient mice10,11 to caecal ligation and puncture12, a model of acute septic peritonitis12,<a data-track="click" data-track-action="reference anchor" data-track-label="link" data-test="citation-ref" aria-label="Reference 13" title="Echtenacher, B., Männel, D. N. & Hültner, L. Critical protective role of mast cells in a model of acute septic peritonitis. Nature 381, 75–77 (1996)." href="/articles/36586#ref-CR13"...