title: Collectins: collagenous C-type lectins of the innate immune defense system.
abstract: Collectins are humoral lectins found in mammals and birds. They are oligomers whose subunits comprise three polypeptide chains each containing a collagenous section and a C-terminal lectin domain. They are related structurally and functionally to the first component of the classical complement pathway, C1q, and seem to serve important roles in innate immunity through opsonization and complement activation. The lectin domains bind carbohydrates on microorganisms, while the collagenous regions are ligands for the collectin receptor on phagocytes and also mediate C1q-independent activation of the classical complement pathway.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Medical Microbiology, University of Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Holmskov
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jensenius
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000276:immunology; D015922:Complement C1q / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D007109:Immunity; D037102:Lectins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000276:immunology; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000276:immunology; D012712:Serum Globulins / Q000276:immunology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: C087299:C1QBP protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D037102:Lectins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D011951:Receptors, Complement; D012712:Serum Globulins; C032402:complement 1q receptor; D015922:Complement C1q