Bennion, Alexandra, Lysaght, Joanne and Lynam‐Lennon, Niamh (2026) The insider's perspective: The intracellular complosome and immune cell dynamics in cancer. Clinical and Translational Medicine, 16 (2). ISSN 2001-1326
Preview
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike.
Download (3MB) | Preview
Abstract
Complement is increasingly recognised as a driver and modulator of antitumour immunity, with context‐dependent effects across T cells, myeloid subsets, stromal elements and tumour cells. Although best known for pathogen clearance and membrane attack complex (MAC) formation, complement also acts intracellularly via the ‘complosome’ to regulate cellular homeostasis and gene expression. Complosome activity may dampen antitumour responses by rewiring single‐cell metabolism and transcription, altering nutrient flux and fostering an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Here, we synthesise advances in intracellular and extracellular complement, with emphasis on complement component 3 (C3) and receptors (C3aR1, C5aR1/CD88, C5aR2/C5L2), highlighting how these pathways shape T‐cell metabolism, exhaustion programmes and inflammatory tone within tumours. Evidence indicates that tonic C3/C5 signalling restrains cytotoxicity via C5aR1‐driven myeloid recruitment and cytokine cascades, while complosome signalling tunes T‐cell activation thresholds and bioenergetics. We outline considerations for selectively modulating intracellular versus extracellular complement, propose cell‐type‐resolved biomarker strategies and identify opportunities for complosome‐directed therapies in cancer, integrating roles across T cells, macrophages, B cells, neutrophils, NK cells, regulatory T cells, dendritic cells, myeloid‐derived suppressor cells and cancer‐associated fibroblasts.
Key points
Intracellular complement (complosome) shapes the tumor immune microenvironment.
Complosome's role in cancer is underrecognized yet central to tumor immunity.
C3/C5‐driven complosome signals rewire T cell activation, fate, and metabolism. Complosome activity can promote pro‐tumor immune cell function.
Blocking the complosome, alone or with checkpoint inhibitors, unveils a new tumor target.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | C3; C3a; C5; C5a; cancer immunity; complement system; complosome; immune cells; immunotherapy; intracellular complement; tumour microenvironment; |
| Academic Unit: | Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology |
| Item ID: | 21431 |
| Identification Number: | 10.1002/ctm2.70628 |
| Depositing User: | Niamh Lynan-Lennon |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Apr 2026 16:08 |
| Journal or Publication Title: | Clinical and Translational Medicine |
| Publisher: | Wiley |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Related URLs: | |
| Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
Downloads
Downloads per month over past year
Share and Export
Share and Export