Complement and coagulation: strangers or partners in crime?

Abstract

The convergence between complement and the clotting system extends far beyond the chemical nature of the complement and coagulation components, both of which form proteolytic cascades. Complement effectors directly enhance coagulation. These effects are supplemented by the interactions of complement with other inflammatory mediators that can increase the thrombogenicity of blood. In addition, complement inhibits anticoagulant factors. The crosstalk between complement and coagulation is also well illustrated by the ability of certain coagulation enzymes to activate complement components. Understanding the interplay between complement and coagulation has fundamental clinical implications in the context of diseases with an inflammatory pathogenesis, in which complement-coagulation interactions contribute to the development of life-threatening complications. Here, we review the interactions of the complement system with hemostasis and their roles in various diseases.