Complement C3 participates in the function and mechanism of traumatic brain injury at simulated high altitude.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to severe mortality and disability, in which secondary injury induced by complement activation plays an important role. TBI tends to be associated with more severe cerebral edema and worse neurological functional recovery if it occurs in high-altitude areas than in low-altitude areas. However, the underlying mechanism of this difference is unknown. Thus, we used cobra venom factor (CVF) to deplete complement C3 in simulated high-altitude areas to explore whether the differences in outcome at different altitudes are related to secondary injury caused by complement C3.

Pubmed ID: 31654641