Kontaktijärjestelmä
Kontaktijärjestelmä, meaning "contact system" in Finnish, refers to a group of plasma proteins that are activated sequentially to initiate and amplify inflammatory responses. These proteins, primarily found in the blood, play a crucial role in the innate immune system, acting as a first line of defense against pathogens. The contact system is distinct from the complement system and the coagulation cascade, although there are interactions between these pathways.
The contact system is primarily triggered by negatively charged surfaces, such as bacterial endotoxins, urate crystals,
In addition to its role in inflammation, the contact system also contributes to blood coagulation and fibrinolysis.