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Immunity is the ability of a host to prevent and limit an infectious challenge. The immediate response is considered as innate whereas that requires several molecular and cellular interactions before its expression is acquired. The multidisciplinary approaches to study the immune system provide us with new knowledge not only about new molecules participating in the immune response but also about their function and structure. The collectins are proteins with collagen tails and globular lectin domains that appear to play an important role in mammalian first line host defense. They are soluble effector proteins that contribute to the basic armament of non-clonal immunity. These molecules include the serum mannosebinding protein (MBP), lung surfactant proteins A and D (SP-A/D), serum bovine conglutinin (BC) and serum bovine collectin-43 (CL-43). Their names derive from the fact that they have a collagen domain, a neck region and a globular carboxi-terminal C type (calcium dependent) lectin-binding domain. The collectins, and in particular MBP, have many features that may be expected of an idealized molecule that plays a role in first line non-clonal immunity. Their properties include the ability to discern self versus non-self, a broad range of antigen recognition, appropriate effector mechanisms and wide distribution. Collectins selectively recognize the patterns of carbohydrates on the outer walls of microorganisms so that they may be considered ante (antecedent role in host defense)-antibodies (1).

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2004-05-10   |   686 visitas   |   Evalua este artículo 0 valoraciones

Vol. 8 Núm.2. Abril-Junio 1997 Pags. 113-114. Rev Biomed 1997; 8(2)