Collectins and their role in lung immunity.
The collectins are a small family of secreted glycoproteins that contain C-type lectin domains and collagenous regions. They have an important function in innate immunity, recognizing and binding to microorganisms via sugar arrays on the microbial surface. Their function is to enhance adhesion and phagocytosis of microorganisms by agglutination and opsonization. In the lung, two members of the collectin family, surfactant proteins A and D, are major protein constituents of surfactant. Another collectin, mannan-binding lectin, is also present in the upper airways and buccal cavity and may protect against respiratory infections. Recent work has shown that collectins have roles in resistance to allergy and in the control of apoptosis and clearance of apoptotic macrophage in the lung.
Hickling
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MRC Immunochemistry Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd., Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
Clark
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Malhotra
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Sim
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RB
D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D037222:Collectins / Q000502:physiology*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000378:metabolism; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
D037222:Collectins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D003165:Complement System Proteins