Cell-Bound Complement Activation Products (CB-CAPs) or complement split products, refers to
complement activation
The complement system, also known as complement cascade, is a part of the immune system that enhances (complements) the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear microbes and damaged cells from an organism, promote inflammation, and at ...
fragments, C4d, that are bound covalently to
somatic cell
A somatic cell (from Ancient Greek σῶμα ''sôma'', meaning "body"), or vegetal cell, is any biological cell forming the body of a multicellular organism other than a gamete, germ cell, gametocyte or undifferentiated stem cell. Such cells compo ...
s, as a result of activation of the classical complement pathway.
They appear potentially useful for the diagnosis of
systemic lupus erythematosus
Lupus, technically known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in many parts of the body. Symptoms vary among people and may be mild to severe. Comm ...
as of 2015.
Medical use
CB-CAPs can be used in the diagnosis and monitoring of SLE. Their efficacy is aided by the ability to be measured throughout the lifespans of erythrocytes, b-lymphocytes.
Research
Research into the development of CB-CAPs has been advocated by the
Lupus
Lupus, technically known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in many parts of the body. Symptoms vary among people and may be mild to severe. Comm ...
Foundation of America.
[{{cite web, url=https://www.lupus.org/news/exagen-and-the-lupus-foundation-of-america-partner-on-new-initiative-to-reduce-the-time-to-an-accurate-lupus-diagnosis, title=Exagen and the Lupus Foundation of America Partner on New Initiative to Reduce the Time to an Accurate Lupus Diagnosis, website=Lupus Foundation of America]
References
Complement system