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Collectins and their role in lung immunity
Author(s) -
Hickling T. P.,
Clark H.,
Malhotra R.,
Sim R. B.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.0703304
Subject(s) - collectin , biology , antibody opsonization , innate immune system , lectin , mannan binding lectin , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , alveolar macrophage , immunity , lung , macrophage , opsonin , immune system , phagocytosis , biochemistry , in vitro , medicine
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 phaocytosis 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.