... protein, is an anaphylatoxin,increasing vascular permeability. Though C 3a is generallyconsidered to be pro-inflammatory [27-29] because itattracts and activates eosinophils, basophils, and mastcells, ... mastcells, few of these cells are present in the brain. C 3a may, in fact, limit brain inflammation, by decreasing the pro-duction of inflammatory cytokines and inducing the pro-duction of ... sections wasobtained with the anti-C9 antibody. (AD brain was the appropriate positive control for these studies becauseC9 staining in substantia nigra specimensFigure 2C9 staining in substantia nigra...