Nattectin a fish C-type lectin drives Th1 responses in vivo: Licenses macrophages to differentiate into cells exhibiting typical DC function

► Fish lectins are distributed in the epidermis, in the epithelia of the upper digestive tract and gills. ► A C-type lectin Nattectin was identified in the venom venomous fish Thalassophryne nattereri, through cDNA library. ► Dendritic cells can be used as immune adjuvants for the generation of antigen-specific immunity and lifelong immunologic memory. ► Nattectin induces the maturation of DCs from F4/80Rhigh macrophages, exhibiting T cell co-stimulatory molecules and IL-12 production. ► Nattectin promote T cell differentiation with production of Th1 cytokines.