Issue Information – Cover

Abstract

Cover photograph: Functions of soluble and membrane-bound C-type lectins against pathogens. A) Soluble C-type lectins are multimerized and inactivate pathogens by agglutinating or coating their surfaces. They also activate complement to kill pathogens and promote phagocytosis by opsonization. B) Membrane-bound C-type lectins are called C-type lectin receptors (CLRs). CLRs take up pathogens via endocytosis and degrade and inactivate them in lysosomes. The degraded antigens are presented on MHC-II, inducing an acquired immune response. C) CLRs associated with ITAM adapter molecules such as FcRg and DAP12 induce various inflammatory responses necessary for host defense. D) CLRs with hemITAM in the cytoplasmic region directly transmit activation signals. E) CLRs with the inhibitory motif ITIM suppress host immune responses. This can either suppress excessive inflammation caused by pathogens or allow pathogens to evade host immunity. F) ITAM has two sides. Many pathogen ligands are multivalent and transmit activation signals through ITAM, but monovalent ligands transmit inhibitory signals. G) Some CLRs capture pathogens on the cell surface and pass them to other pathogen recognition receptors. Microbiol Immunol: 69:257-269. Article link here