Mouse C4 ELISA Kit

Mouse C4 ELISA Kit

The complement system plays important roles in both innate and adaptive immune responses and can produce inflammatory and protective reactions to pathogens before an adaptive immune response occurs. There are three pathways of complement activation: the classical pathway, the lectin pathway, and the alternative pathway. Complement component 4 (C4) is a key glycoprotein involved in activation of the classical and lectin pathways. Activation of these pathways leads to cleavage of C4, releasing the anaphylatoxin C4a and the pathway-activating fragment C4b. C4b binds to cell surfaces and participates in the formation of complement convertases that amplify complement activation and contribute to generation of the terminal complement complex. C4 functions as an acute-phase protein and is primarily synthesized in the liver, although it can also be produced locally by cells including monocytes, macrophages, and epithelial cells. C4 is encoded by the C4A and C4B genes, which have highly similar sequences but differ in substrate specificity. C4A preferentially binds amino and thiol groups, whereas C4B more readily binds hydroxyl groups. Measurement of total C4 concentration provides information about the potential for complement activation through the classical and lectin pathways.

In research settings, C4 is widely studied as a biomarker of complement activity, inflammation, and immune regulation. Researchers measure C4 levels to investigate complement activation in experimental models of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and to study the role of complement in immune complex and apoptotic cell clearance. Changes in C4 concentration can be evaluated in relation to inflammatory responses, genetic factors, or experimental interventions to better understand complement-mediated mechanisms. C4 measurements can also be combined with functional complement assays and other complement biomarkers to characterize activity of the classical and lectin pathways.

In clinical settings, C4 measurement is relevant to the evaluation of complement deficiencies and immune-mediated diseases. Reduced C4 levels can be associated with complement consumption during inflammatory or immune complex-mediated processes, while inherited C4 deficiency has been associated with increased susceptibility to autoimmune disease, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), as well as certain infections. C4 levels may also change during inflammatory disease activity and can provide information about complement system status when interpreted alongside other laboratory and clinical findings. Studying C4 levels and function helps researchers and clinicians better understand complement involvement in autoimmunity, inflammation, and immune complex clearance.

This Mouse C4 ELISA Kit is manufactured in Netherlands by Hycult Biotech.