Collectin

Collectins are soluble pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) belonging to the superfamily of collagen containing C-type lectins.

Eight collectins have been identified including mannan-binding lectin (MBL), surfactant protein A (SP-A), surfactant protein D (SP-D), collectin liver 1 (CL-L1), collectin placenta 1 (CL-P1), conglutinin, collectin of 43 kDa (CL-43) and collectin of 46 kDa (CL-46).

These molecules have been implicated as major modulators of the innate immune system where they have a key role in the first line of defense against invading microorganisms by binding to them so macrophages know to dispose of them.[1]

Functionally, collectins are usually trimers with the number of trimeric units differing among the collectin family.

Structural domains

The collectin monomers comprise four structural domains;

Responses

The binding of collectins to microbes causes several immune related responses.

References

  1. ^ http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/content/full/169/10/5726
  2. ^ a b van de Wetering et al. Collectins: Players of the innate immune system. Eur. J. Biochem. 271, 1229-1249 (2004)