Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
The complement system represents an ancient tool of innate immunity whose original function was, apparently, to opsonize foreign particles for effective recognition and elimination by phagocytes or other scavenger cells. In this regard, CR3 evolved as a membrane receptor that enables recognition and uptake of complement opsonized antigens. Later on, the function of the complement system has been extended by additional components, to include killing of pathogens, chemotaxis and anaphylaxis. Likewise, the function of CR3 has been extended to include adhesion, activation of oxidative burst cytokine production and cytotoxicity. The receptor-associated galectin-1 reflects another facet of this extension by virtue of its ability to modulate the activity of CR3, thus combining CR3 to several other signaling functions. This is yet another example how basic elements of innate immunity developed into a powerful and complex machinery of response to dangerous antigens.
Eitan Yefenof (Thu,) studied this question.