Complement Factor H (CFH) is a critical regulator of the complement system, a key component of the immune response that defends against infections, initiates inflammation, and manages immune complexes. With a concentration ranging between 400-800 μg/ml, CFH is crucial for complement homeostasis, ensuring complement activity is confined to appropriate surfaces. It achieves this by binding to C3b, accelerating the decay of the alternative pathway C3-convertase and serving as a cofactor for the inactivation of C3b.
As the foremost regulatory protein of the alternative pathway, Complement Factor H is a modular 150 kDa glycoprotein composed of 20 short consensus repeats (SCR), each with around 60 amino acids. This structure hosts multiple functional sites, including three C3-binding and polyanion binding sites, which allow CFH to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects and interact with CRP.
CFH’s dual functional domains at its protein ends are instrumental in its regulatory capacity. The N-terminal domain acts as a fluid phase regulator, while the C-terminal domain, particularly through SCR 7, anchors CFH to cellular and tissue surfaces, providing essential protection to host cells.
Genetic studies have identified a strong link between variations in Complement Factor H and several human diseases, including renal conditions like atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) and membraneoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), as well as ocular disorders such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), underscoring the protein’s medical significance.
This product is manufactured in Netherlands by Hycult Biotech.