Food intake regulation by central complement system

Abstract

Complement C3a and C5a are released from C3 and C5, respectively, on activation of the complement system and play an important role in immune response. C3a, C5a and their receptors have been revealed to be present in the central nervous system (CNS) as well as the peripheral immune system. We found that centrally administered C3a suppresses food intake, while C5a stimulates food intake, and their food intake regulation may be associated with the prostaglandin system. We propose that complement C3a and C5a are regulators not only of the immune system but also of the CNS. © 2009 Springer-Verlag New York.