Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Immunologic and Biological Factors > Biological Factors > Anaphylatoxins Terms and Definitions

Anaphylatoxins

Medical Definition:	The family of peptides C3a, C4a, C5a, and C5a des-arginine produced in the serum during complement activation. They produce smooth muscle contraction, mast cell histamine release, affect platelet aggregation, and act as mediators of the local inflammatory process. The order of anaphylatoxin activity from strongest to weakest is C5a, C3a, C4a, and C5a des-arginine. The latter is the so-called "classical" anaphylatoxin but shows no spasmogenic activity though it contains some chemotactic ability.
Guide Notes:	"produced in the serum during complement activation"
Also Called:	Anaphylatoxin
Previously Indexed:	Complement (1968-1976),Peptide Fragments (1974-1976),Peptides (1966-1976),specific complement (1975-1976)

CANADIAN MEDICAL GUIDE

Thank you for visiting Canadian Medical Guide .com