lectin pathway activation
The lectin pathway consists of soluble pattern recognition molecules (PRM) containing collagen-like regions, such as mannan lectin (MBL), L-ficolin (ficolin-2), and H-ficolin (ficolin-3), etc. Both MBL and ficolins depend on MBL-associated serine proteases (MASP) to activate the complement system. On binding of MBL-MASP or ficolin- MASP complexes to microbial surfaces, MASP sequentially cleaves C4 and C2, thereby generating the C3 convertase C4bC2b, which results in opsonization and lysis of pathogens and recruitment of inflammatory cells and eliminates microorganisms.
