What is the order of activation of complement components in the classical pathway?

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In the classical pathway of complement activation, the order of activation begins with the complement component C1, which is the first component to bind to the antibody-antigen complex. Once C1 is activated, it then cleaves and activates C4. The activated C4 can further cleave C2, leading to the formation of the C3 convertase, an essential enzymatic complex that will eventually cleave C3 into its active components.

The sequence – C1 followed by C4, then C2, and finally leading to the activation of C3 – reflects the correct cascade of events in the classical pathway. Understanding this order is crucial for seeing how the immune response is amplified through the complement system and how it ultimately contributes to pathogen clearance and inflammation. Each component plays a significant role in this sequential activation, and any disruption in this order can lead to a failure in the immune response.

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