补体系统是先天免疫系统的组成部分，脾脏是免疫应答的发生场所和调节器官。脾脏B细胞表面受体在抗多糖免疫应答中起作用，根据对补体缺陷的动物模型和患者的观察，
补体在抗多糖免疫应答中亦起作用。脾脏边缘区的功能成熟和补体系统各组分的完整性对抗单纯多糖免疫应答相当重要，而多糖-蛋白结合疫苗似可克服脾脏功能和补体的缺陷。

The complement system is a part of the innate immune system, and the spleen is a lymphoid organ with immunoregulatory function where the immune response occurs. The  B cells surface receptors in splenic marginal zone play a role in immune response to polysaccharides, and so do the complement components based on findings obtained from complement-deficient animal models and patients. The functional maturity of splenic marginal zone and integrity of complement system play an important role in the immune response to plain polysaccharides. It seems that poly-sac-charide-protein conjugate vaccines can overcome the splenic function impairment and
complement deficiency.