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PubMed2001

Surfactant proteins a and d and pulmonary host defense.

The lung collectins, SP-A and SP-D, are important components of the innate immune response to microbial challenge and participate in other aspects of immune and inflammatory regulation within the lung. Both proteins bind to surface structures expressed by a wide variety of microorganisms and have the capacity to modulate multiple leukocyte functions, including the enhanced internalization and killing of certain microorganisms in vitro. In addition, transgenic mice with deficiencies in SP-A and SP-D show defective or altered responses to challenge with bacterial, fungal, and viral microorganisms and to bacterial lipopolysaccharides in vivo. Thus collectins could play particularly important roles in settings of inadequate or impaired specific immunity, and acquired alterations in the levels of active collectins within the airspaces and distal airways may increase susceptibility to infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Pulmonary surfactant proteins A and D enhance neutrophil uptake of bacteria.

The collectins are a class of collagenous lectin proteins present in serum and pulmonary secretions [pulmonary surfactant protein (SP) A and SP-D] that are believed to participate in innate immune responses to various pathogens. With the use of flow cytometric and fluorescent-microscopic assays, SP-A and SP-D were shown to increase calcium-dependent neutrophil uptake of Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus. Evidence is provided that the collectins enhanced bacterial uptake through a mechanism that involved both bacterial aggregation and direct actions on neutrophils. The degree of multimerization of SP-D preparations was a critical determinant of both aggregating activity and potency in enhancing bacterial uptake. The mechanisms of opsonizing activity of SP-D and SP-A differed in important respects from those of opsonizing antibodies. These results provide the first evidence that surfactant collectins may promote neutrophil-mediated clearance of bacteria in the lung independently of opsonizing antibody.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Potential role of surfactant proteins A and D in innate lung defense against pathogens.

The physiological role of pulmonary surfactant is probably not limited to conferring mechanical stability to the alveoli. Increasing evidence suggests that surfactant components, in particular the hydrophilic surfactant proteins SP-A and SP-D, play potentially important roles in host defense mechanisms. Both SP-A and SP-D are collagenous C-type lectins (collectins) that are structurally and, perhaps, functionally related to collectins in the circulation. As will be discussed in this review, evidence is accumulating that the alveolar collectins SP-A and SP-D could be important components of a first-line defense system against infiltrating pathogenic micro-organisms and viruses.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid surfactant protein-A and surfactant protein-D are inversely related to inflammation in early cystic fibrosis.

The pulmonary collectins surfactant protein (SP)-A and SP-D play important roles in innate lung defense, enhancing opsonization of microbes and limiting lung inflammatory responses. To quantify relationships among collectins, bacteria, and inflammation in early cystic fibrosis (CF) airway secretions, bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs) were collected from children undergoing clinically indicated bronchoscopy. Quantitative bacteriology, differential cell counts, and ELISA for SP-A and SP-D were assessed. Significantly increased numbers of neutrophils relative to bacteria were noted in BALF from CF compared with non-CF subjects. Although SP-A levels tended to be lower in CF compared with non-CF, this was only significant in the presence of bacterial infection. Among CF patients, SP-A concentrations in BALF were inversely related to inflammation, bacterial colony-forming units per milliliter, and age. SP-D levels were significantly decreased in CF patients, and SP-D was rarely detectable in the presence of infection. Among CF patients, SP-D correlated inversely with inflammation and bacterial colony-forming units per milliliter, and there was decreased immunostaining of BALF cells for SP-D in CF. Immunohistochemistry of CF autopsy lung sections for SP-A and SP-D confirmed their paucity at sites of infection and inflammation. We conclude that relative collectin deficiency occurs early in CF airways and is inversely related to inflammation in CF airways.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1999

Genomic organization of the mouse gene for lung surfactant protein D.

Lung surfactant protein (SP)-D belongs to the family of soluble collagenous C-type lectins, named collectins. SP-D participates in the local innate immune defense of the lung, eliciting various effector functions by acting as a pattern recognition receptor for the carbohydrate structures on inhaled microorganisms and particulate matter. This work describes the isolation and characterization of the mouse SP-D gene (Sftpd), which spans 8 exons over 14 kb of sequence and shows an overall organization similar to other collectin genes. The complete 5' untranslated region of the messenger RNA, absent from the published complementary DNA for mouse SP-D, was also cloned and is shown to be encoded by a single exon. Analysis of 3.5 kb of 5' flanking nucleotide sequence for Sftpd is described and reveals positional conservation of a number of transcription factor binding sites on comparison of Sftpd with the human SP-D gene and the bovine conglutinin gene. In addition, a single copy SP-D-like gene has been shown to be present in mammals, birds, and amphibians but is absent in fish. An atypical, rodent-specific, long terminal repeat of retroviral origin containing a minisatellite that has become inserted in Sftpd is described. Three new polymorphic microsatellites are also described, one of which is just 160 base pairs upstream of Sftpd. This microsatellite was used to map the gene to the central region of chromosome 14; fine-scale mapping indicates that it lies in a 5. 64-centimorgan area between D14Mit45 and D14Mit60. This will allow the easy identification of the collectin gene cluster and aid in the construction of a physical map over this region.

5' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed2006

Pulmonary surfactant proteins A and D: innate immune functions and biomarkers for lung diseases.

Pulmonary surfactant, a complex of lipids and proteins, functions to keep alveoli from collapsing at expiration. Surfactant proteins A (SP-A) and D (SP-D) belong to the collectin family and play pivotal roles in the innate immunity of the lung. Pulmonary collectins directly bind with broad specificities to a variety of microorganism and possess anti-microbial effects. These proteins also exhibit both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions, which occur through interactions with pattern recognition receptors including Toll-like receptor and CD14, signal inhibitory regulatory protein alpha and a receptor complex of calreticulin and CD91. The collectins enhance phagocytosis of microbes by macrophages through opsonic and/or non-opsonic activities. The proteins stimulate cell surface expression of phagocytic receptors including scavenger receptor A and mannose receptor. Since the expression of SP-A and SP-D is abundant and restricted within the lung, the proteins are now clinically used as biomarkers for lung diseases. The levels of SP-A and SP-D in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, amniotic fluids, tracheal aspirates and pleural effusions reflect alterations in alveolar compartments and epithelium, and lung maturity. The determination of SP-A and SP-D in sera is a non-invasive and useful tool for understanding some pathological changes of the lung in the diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis, collagen vascular diseases complicated with interstitial lung disease, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome and radiation pneumonitis.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Localization and functions of SP-A and SP-D at mucosal surfaces.

Pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) and D (SP-D), members of the collectin family, are implicated in innate host defense of the lung. Collectins consist of a collagen-like domain and a carbohydrate recognition domain. SP-A and SP-D recognize and interact with glycoconjugates on the surface of microorganisms. They protect the lung by interacting with a wide variety of potential pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. This may result in enhanced killing and/or clearance by phagocytes. Although most extensively studied in the lung, both SP-A and SP-D, or proteins closely resembling SP-A and SP-D, are found in a number of other sites in the body and therefore may play a protective role at other sites than the lung. SP-A and SP-D protein and/or mRNA have been detected at various sites of the body: the respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract, the middle ear, and in the peritoneal cavity. The presence of SP-A and SP-D at these mucosal surfaces, in close contact with numerous potentially harmful microorganisms, supports a role for these "lung"-collectins in innate mucosal defense. SP-A and SP-D may be important molecules in a threefold innate defense, particularly in the neonatal period between maternally acquired immunity and a fully developed adaptive immune system; the time interval between first exposure to a pathogen and generation of specific antibodies; and states of impaired immune function.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Genomic and molecular characterization of CL-43 and its proximal promoter.

Collectins are part of the innate immune system as they bind nonself glycoconjugates on the surface of microorganisms and inhibit infection by direct neutralization, agglutination or opsonization of the invaders. Conglutinin and CL-43 are serum proteins that have only been found and characterized in Bovidae. We have studied molecular and genomic characteristics of CL-43 to identify polymorphisms that might be associated with disease-susceptible phenotypes or other traits in cattle, and to elucidate how the Bovidae may benefit from possessing additional collectins. Screening a bovine cDNA library resulted in the isolation of two plasmid clones that encoded the entire translated sequence of CL-43. The 5'-untranslated end and start point of transcription were identified by 5'-RACE and showed that the mRNA transcript comprises either 1326 or 1241 nucleotides because of alternative splicing. Both transcripts encode a protein of 321 amino acids including a signal peptide of 20 residues. Characterization of two overlapping genomic lambda phage clones showed that the gene comprised seven exons spanning 8.5 kbp. The CL-43 gene, like the conglutinin gene, was mapped to Bos taurus chromosome 28 at q1.8. The CL-43 promoter has 96% identity with the conglutinin promoter recently described by us, and the assignment of potential cis-regulatory elements shows that several hepatic transcription factors may regulate transcription in the acute phase response and in response to metabolic changes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) in health and disease.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is the most intensively studied human collectin. It is recognized to be a versatile macro-molecule with many of the functional characteristics of IgM, IgG and Clq. In the presence of calcium the protein can bind to a wide spectrum of oligosaccharides through multiple lectin domains. Such binding to the repeating sugar arrays on microbial surfaces may result in direct uptake by one or more collectin receptors on phagocyte surface or may trigger the activation of a pro-serine protease complex (MASP 1 and MASP 2) leading to cleavage of C4 and C2 of the classical complement pathway. Although serum levels of MBL are normally rather low (1500 micrograms/litre) there is increasing evidence that the protein plays an important role in immune defence, particularly during the phase of primary contact with a microorganism. This is suggested by the observed association of an increased incidence of infections in individuals with structural mutations in exon 1 of the MBL gene. A cluster of such mutations in codons 52, 54 and 57 lead to secondary structural abnormalities of the collagenous triple helix and a failure to form biologically functional higher order oligomers. The codon 54 mutation has been identified in several Eurasian populations whereas the codon 57 mutation is characteristic of sub-Saharan populations. One intriguing paradox arising from the MBL genotyping studies is the observation that in many populations there are surprisingly high frequencies of either the codon 54 or codon 57 mutation, suggesting that there may be some biological advantage associated with absence of the protein. Nevertheless, various groups have reported either low serum levels of MBL or an increased frequency of the structural gene mutations in patients with suspected immunodeficiencies, those with frequent unexplained infections and those with systemic lupus erythematosus. There is also evidence that the rate of progression of AIDS in HIV positive men is faster in those with such mutations. A recently published study of a consecutive series of admissions to a paediatric unit suggests that children presenting with an infectious aetiology are significantly more likely to have a MBL mutation. Moreover, this association was independent of age. Prospective studies are underway to address the questions raised by these findings.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1997

Cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding bovine mannan-binding protein.

To identify the bovine mannan-binding protein (MBP), a search for the cDNA homologue of human MBP was carried out. cDNA clones encoding bovine MBP were isolated from a bovine liver cDNA library using a cDNA fragment encoding a short collagen region, neck domain and carbohydrate recognition domain of human MBP. The cDNA carried an insert of 747 bp encoding a protein of 249 amino acid (aa) residues with a signal peptide of 19 aa. The mannan-binding protein fraction of bovine serum that eluted with 100 mM mannose from a mannan-Sepharose column was analyzed under reducing conditions by SDS-PAGE. The major band of 33 kDa obtained reacted with anti-human MBP rabbit serum. The partial aa sequence of the purified 33-kDa protein was identical to the aa sequence deduced from the obtained cDNA. Results of the passive hemolysis experiment using sheep erythrocytes coated with yeast mannan suggest that this MBP has the ability to activate complement. Northern blot analysis showed a 1.8-kb mRNA that was expressed only in the liver. Based on results of genomic analysis, this bovine MBP is likely to be a homologue of human MBP and to also have homology to rat and mouse MBP-C which are localized in liver cells rather than to rat and mouse MBP-A found in serum. Alignments of bovine collectins show that bovine MBP cannot be included among the other bovine collectins, such as bovine SP-D, conglutinin and CL-43. Finally, these genomic and biological analyses indicate that the cDNA obtained here encoded a bovine serum MBP.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Carbohydrate-mediated recognition systems in innate immunity.

There is growing interest in carbohydrate-recognizing receptors of the innate immune system. Among them are members of the C-type lectin family, which include the collectins and the selectins and which operate by ligating exogenous (microbial) or endogenous carbohydrates. De novo assignments of the sequences of ligands for carbohydrate-recognizing receptors are among the most challenging topics in cell biology. This is because of the heterogeneity of oligosaccharides on proteins and lipids, and their availability only in limited amounts. To address the need for a microprocedure for direct binding studies with oligosaccharides derived from glycoproteins, we introduced the neoglycolipid technology for generating solid phase oligosaccharide probes for binding experiments. The technology has enabled assignments of unsuspected oligosaccharide ligands for the selectins and given valuable insights into those for the collectins. The ligands so far identified appear not to be unique for a given receptor system; there are considerable cross-reactions. Specificity can be created, however, through different modes of oligosaccharide presentation on macromolecular carriers, or the expression of a particular oligosaccharide sequence on a selected cell type in a given body compartment, and the regulated expression of the receptor protein at the desired location. The existence of unique ligand structures is not ruled out, however. Co-ligation of a receptor may also occur to a second carbohydrate or even to a non-carbohydrate ligand to create a unique assembly. A further group of C-type lectin-like proteins occurs on natural killer (NK) cells and NK T cells, and is associated with activation or inhibition of the cell effector functions. An important challenge is to determine whether carbohydrates are among physiological ligands for this important group of receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Asymmetry adjacent to the collagen-like domain in rat liver mannose-binding protein.

Rat liver mannose-binding protein (MBP-C) is the smallest known member of the collectin family of animal lectins, many of which are involved in defence against microbial pathogens. It consists of an N-terminal collagen-like domain linked to C-terminal carbohydrate-recognition domains. MBP-C, overproduced in Chinese-hamster ovary cells, is post-translationally modified and processed in a manner similar to the native lectin. Analytical ultracentrifugation experiments indicate that MBP-C is trimeric, with a weight-averaged molecular mass of approx. 77 kDa. The rate of sedimentation of MBP-C and its mobility on gel filtration suggest a highly elongated molecule. Anomalous behaviour on gel filtration due to this extended conformation may explain previous suggestions that MBP-C forms a higher oligomer. The polypeptide chains of the MBP-C trimer are linked by disulphide bonds between two cysteine residues at the N-terminal junction of the collagen-like domain. Analysis of an N-terminal tryptic fragment reveals that the disulphide bonding in MBP-C is heterogeneous and asymmetrical. These results indicate that assembly of MBP-C oligomers probably proceeds in a C- to N-terminal direction: trimerization at the C-terminus is followed by assembly of the collagenous domain and finally formation of N-terminal disulphide bonds. The relatively simple organization of MBP-C provides a template for understanding larger, more complex collectins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Human mannan-binding lectin inhibits the infection of influenza A virus without complement.

Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a C-type serum lectin that is believed to play an important role in innate immunity. It is one of the collectin family, which is characterized by having a collagen-like sequence and a carbohydrate recognition domain. MBL can bind to sugar determinants of several micro-organisms, neutralize them and inhibit infection by complement activation through the lectin pathway and opsonization by collectin receptors. Bovine conglutinin and mouse MBL inhibit the infective and haemagglutinating activities of influenza A viruses. To identify the direct antiviral activity of human MBL against influenza A viruses that does not depend on complement activation or opsonization, we isolated native MBL from human serum and produced a recombinant MBL in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells using a pNOW/CMV-A expression vector system. Native and recombinant human MBL exhibited neutralization activity against A/Ibaraki/1/90 (H3N2), with the plaque focus reduction assay at the viral attachment phase. Their activities were inhibited by EDTA, mannose and anti-human MBL antibody. Furthermore, at the viral expansion phase both MBL in culture medium prevented viral spreading from primary infected cells to neighbour cells. A virus recovery study using EDTA indicated that interaction between MBL and virus was reversible and non-damaging to the virus. Lectin blot and immunohistochemistry assays showed that these antiviral activities involved binding between MBL and two viral envelope proteins, haemagglutinin and neuraminidase. These findings suggest that human MBL can play an important role in innate immunity by direct viral neutralization and inhibition of viral spread, as well as an indirect role through opsonization and complement activation.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Pulmonary innate immune proteins and receptors that interact with gram-positive bacterial ligands.

The two major gram-positive bacterial (GPB) ligands are peptidoglycan (PGN) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA). These polymeric LTA and highly organized PGN contain repeating carbohydrate moieties, which are potential targets for pattern recognition molecules. The major pattern recognition proteins and receptors, which bind GPB, either have a lectin, PGN recognition, collagen or leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain. The soluble innate immune proteins (IIPs) that bind to PGN and LTA include pulmonary collectins surfactant-associated proteins (SP-) A and D, lectin-like pentraxins C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P component (SAP), and sCD14. Membrane-anchored lectin or lectin-like group members include macrophage mannose receptor (MR), complement receptor 3 (CR3, or Mac-1, or integrin CD11b/CD18), scavenger receptor A (SRCL-1), lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor 1 (LOX-1), and GPI-anchored CD14. Although Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and 4, and CD14 contain extracellular LRR domains, only TLRs have a cytoplasmic domain for signal transduction. Three of the four recently discovered human PGN recognition proteins (PGRP) have a transmembrane domain, and hence, considered as true receptors for GPB. Since lysozyme is the only known pulmonary enzyme that can lyse bacterial cell wall PGN, other innate immune molecules appear to be responsible for signalling and enhancing the clearance of GPB infection from the lung. Interestingly, pulmonary collectins bind not only to GPB ligands but also to the receptors, CD14 and TLR, and antigen processing cells such as dentritic cells. These complex interactions appear to play major roles in linking innate and adaptive immunity, and maintaining a pathogen-free lung with minimal, or no inflammation.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Complement receptor 1/CD35 is a receptor for mannan-binding lectin.

Mannan-binding lectin (MBL), a member of the collectin family, is known to have opsonic function, although identification of its cellular receptor has been elusive. Complement C1q, which is homologous to MBL, binds to complement receptor 1 (CR1/CD35), and thus we investigated whether CR1 also functions as the MBL receptor. Radioiodinated MBL bound to recombinant soluble CR1 (sCR1) that had been immobilized on plastic with an apparent equilibrium dissociation constant of 5 nM. N-acetyl-d-glucosamine did not inhibit sCR1-MBL binding, indicating that the carbohydrate binding site of MBL is not involved in binding CR1. C1q inhibited MBL binding to immobilized sCR1, suggesting that MBL and C1q might bind to the same or adjacent sites on CR1. MBL binding to polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) was associated positively with changes in CR1 expression induced by phorbol myristate acetate. Finally, CR1 mediated the adhesion of human erythrocytes to immobilized MBL and functioned as a phagocytic receptor on PMNs for MBL-immunoglobulin G opsonized bacteria. Thus, MBL binds to both recombinant sCR1 and cellular CR1, which supports the role of CR1 as a cellular receptor for the collectin MBL.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1999

Surfactant protein A binds to the fusion glycoprotein of respiratory syncytial virus and neutralizes virion infectivity.

Collectins are a family of calcium-dependent collagenous lectins that appear to be important in innate host defense. We investigated the ability of three human collectins, namely, lung surfactant proteins A (SP-A) and D (SP-D) and the serum mannose-binding protein (MBP), to bind to the surface glycoproteins of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). SP-A was shown to bind to the F (fusion) glycoprotein but not to the viral G (attachment) glycoprotein, and binding was completely abrogated in the presence of EDTA. Neither SP-D nor MBP bound to either glycoprotein. SP-A also neutralized RSV in a calcium dependent fashion. These results support a role for SP-A in the defense of infants against infection with RSV and indicate a possible mechanism for its protective activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Molecular and biological characterization of rabbit mannan-binding protein.

Mannan-binding protein (MBP) is a member of the collectin family of protein. There are two types of MBP, MBP-A and MBP-C, which were found in rodent (rats and mice), rhesus monkey, and cynomolgus monkey, while chimpanzee and human have only one MBP. It was considered that the loss of one MBP gene occurred during hominoid evolution. In this article two rabbit MBP, a liver and serum MBP, were characterized biologically and genetically. Analyses by SDS-PAGE under reduced condition and their amino acid sequences of both MBPs showed that they have a same molecular weight of 32 kDa and their amino acid sequences were identical. A serum MBP has a higher ability to activate complement than does a liver MBP; however, a liver MBP inhibits hemagglutination by influenza virus as strongly as a serum MBP does. cDNA clones encoding the rabbit MBP were isolated from a rabbit cDNA liver library using whole cDNA of mouse MBP-C as a probe. The cDNA carried an insert of 744 bp coding for a protein of 247 acid residues with a signal peptide of 22 residues. The deduced amino acid sequence of the cDNA was identical to that of amino acid sequences of the 32 kDa proteins determined here. Northern blot analysis showed that mRNA transcripts of about 0. 9 and 3.0 kb were expressed only in the liver. The analysis of the phylogenetic tree of rabbit and bovine MBPs and other collectins indicates that the loss of MBP gene occurred not only during hominoid evolution but also at some points after the separation of birds and mammals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Enhanced anti-influenza activity of a surfactant protein D and serum conglutinin fusion protein.

We previously demonstrated that bovine serum conglutinin has markedly greater ability to inhibit influenza A virus (IAV) infectivity than other collectins. We now show that recombinant conglutinin and a chimeric protein containing the NH(2) terminus and collagen domain of rat pulmonary surfactant protein D (rSP-D) fused to the neck region and carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) of conglutinin (termed SP-D/Cong(neck+CRD)) have markedly greater ability to inhibit infectivity of IAV than wild-type recombinant rSP-D, confirming that the potent IAV-neutralizing activity of conglutinin resides in its neck region and CRD. Furthermore, by virtue of incorporation of the NH(2) terminus and collagen domain of SP-D, SP-D/Cong(neck+CRD) caused substantially greater aggregation of IAV particles and enhancement of neutrophil binding of, and H(2)O(2) responses to, IAV than recombinant conglutinin or recombinant rSP-D. Hence, SP-D/Cong(neck+CRD) combined favorable antiviral and opsonic properties of conglutinin and SP-D. This study demonstrates an association of specific structural domains of SP-D and conglutinin with specific functional properties and illustrates that antimicrobial activities of wild-type collectins can be enhanced through recombinant strategies.

Animals↗