Macrophage 'receptors' for bacterial cell-wall sugars and immune response genes: possible determinants of susceptibility to infection.
Recognition of bacteria, antigen presentation and regulation of the immune response by the class II antigens of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are among the many factors that influence a host's response to microbial infection. 'Lectin-like' receptors on the macrophage membrane recognize a variety of bacteria by interaction with their cell-wall sugars. These receptors are susceptible to environmental factors and appear to be associated with the I-A subregion of the mouse MHC. Possible effects of this recognition system on the pathogenesis of microbial infection and reactive arthritides are considered.
D000818:Animals; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic
D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic