Role of Mannose Binding Lectin and their associated Srine Protease in innate immunity

Mannose binding Lectin (MBL) is a key pattern recognition receptor molecule, found in invertebrates to higher vertebrates, MBL initiates various immune and immunomodulatory responses on binding with the pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). MBL recognizes a wide variety of viruses, bacteria, protozoa, fungi and cell debris opsonizing and clearing them either by opsonophagocytosis or activating complement pathway through MASP-1/2 mediated cleavage of complement components C4 and C2, thus generating the C3 convertase C4bC2b. A new insight on the responses, their mechanism and role of MBL associated serine proteases are discussed in the review.