title: Ficolin-B marks apoptotic and necrotic cells.
abstract: Ficolins are a group of proteins consisting of a fibrinogen-like and a collagen-like domain. They play a role in innate immunity by activating the complement system via the lectin pathway upon binding to carbohydrate patterns on pathogens. Two types of ficolins have been identified in mice, ficolin A and ficolin B (FcnB). We show in this article that recombinant FcnB binds to late apoptotic cells and to apoptotic bodies as well as to necrotic cells but not to early apoptotic cells. This binding was calcium-dependent and could be competitively inhibited by acetylated BSA, a classical binding substrate of FcnB. In addition, DNA inhibited binding of FcnB to apoptotic and necrotic cells, indicating that DNA exposed by dying cells could also be a ligand for FcnB. Thus, FcnB may play a role in the removal of damaged host cells and maintenance of tissue homeostasis.
authors: Institute of Immunology, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93042 Regensburg, Germany.
authors: Maximilian
authors: M
authors: Schmid
authors: Katja
authors: K
authors: Hunold
authors: Dorothea
authors: D
authors: Weber-Steffens
authors: Daniela N
authors: DN
authors: Männel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D037582:Complement Pathway, Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000276:immunology*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D037102:Lectins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009336:Necrosis / Q000276:immunology*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000097604:Ficolins
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium; D004247:DNA; D037102:Lectins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D000097604:Ficolins