C3 ELISA Kit

Complement component 3 (C3) is a central protein in the complement system, an essential part of innate immunity responsible for pathogen recognition, opsonization, and inflammation. Synthesized primarily in the liver, C3 is cleaved into two fragments—C3a and C3b—during complement activation via the classical, lectin, or alternative pathways. C3b acts as an opsonin, tagging pathogens for phagocytosis, while C3a functions as an anaphylatoxin, promoting chemotaxis and inflammation. Because it lies at the convergence point of all complement activation routes, C3 serves as a critical indicator of overall complement system activity.

In research, C3 is commonly used as a biomarker to study immune system activation, inflammatory pathways, and disease pathophysiology. Quantification of total C3 levels, as well as its activated fragments (C3a, C3b, iC3b, and C3d), helps investigators assess complement activation dynamics in autoimmune diseases, infections, and metabolic or neurodegenerative disorders. In clinical settings, serum C3 measurement is routinely performed to evaluate immune complex–mediated diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and glomerulonephritis. Low C3 levels can indicate complement consumption due to ongoing inflammation or complement deficiencies, while elevated C3 levels are often associated with acute-phase responses. Thus, C3 serves as both a mechanistic research tool and a practical clinical biomarker for diagnosing, monitoring, and understanding immune-mediated diseases.

This product is manufactured in USA by Eagle Biosciences.