Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and ficolins are pattern recognition proteins acting in innate immunity, and they trigger the activation of the lectin complement pathway through MBL-associated serine proteases (MASPs). Upon activation of the lectin pathway, MASP-2 cleaves C4 and C2. A truncated form of MASP-2, named small MBL-associated protein (sMAP), is also associated with MBL/ficolin-MASP comp...

DNA sequencing, nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism were used to investigate mutations in the coding regions of the bovine myeloid antimicrobial peptide-28 (BMAP-28) and mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2) genes in 249 Chinese Holstein dairy cows. The associations between the polymorphisms and somatic cell score (SCS) ...

BACKGROUND Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and MBL-associated serine proteases 2 (MASP-2) are important proteins in the lectin pathway of the immune system. Polymorphism of MBL and MASP-2 genes may affect the serum concentration of MBL and MASP-2. This study explores the association between MBL and MASP-2 gene polymorphism and their interactions and the susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB). METHO...

The lectin pathway of complement is an integral component of innate immunity. It is activated upon binding of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) or ficolins (H-, L-, and M-ficolin) to suitable ligand patterns on microorganisms. MBL and ficolins are polydisperse homo-oligomeric molecules, found in complexes with MBL-associated serine proteases (MASP-1, -2, and -3) and MBL-associated proteins (MAp19 and...

Scabies is an infectious skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei and has been classified as one of the six most prevalent epidermal parasitic skin diseases infecting populations living in poverty by the World Health Organisation. The role of the complement system, a pivotal component of human innate immunity, as an important defence against invading pathogens has been well documented ...

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL)-associated serine proteases (MASPs) are responsible for activation of the lectin complement pathway. Three types of MASPs (MASP-1, MASP-2, and MASP-3) are complexed with MBL and ficolins in serum. Although MASP-1 and MASP-2 are known to contribute to complement activation, the function of MASP-3 remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of MASP-3...

The recognition of pathogens is mediated by a set of pattern recognition molecules that recognize conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns shared by broad classes of microorganisms. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is one of the pattern recognition molecules and activates complement in association with MBL-associated serine protease (MASP) via the lectin pathway. Recently, an MBL-like lecti...