Define anaphylatoxins. Give one example.

Anaphylatoxins are small peptide fragments generated during the activation of the complement system, particularly from the cleavage of complement proteins. They play a crucial role in promoting inflammatory responses by:

• Inducing Inflammation: They increase the permeability of blood vessels, leading to swelling and redness in the affected tissues.
• Recruiting Immune Cells: They attract and activate immune cells such as neutrophils and macrophages to the site of infection or injury.
• Triggering Degranulation: They can stimulate the degranulation of mast cells and basophils, leading to the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators.

One example of an anaphylatoxin is C5a. C5a is derived from the cleavage of complement component C5 and is a potent anaphylatoxin involved in amplifying the inflammatory response and enhancing the recruitment of immune cells to the site of infection or damage.