Role of ficolin in innate immunity and its molecular basis

Ficolin is a multimeric protein consisting of an N-terminal collagen-like domain and a C-terminal fibrinogen-like domain. The structure is similar to mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and complement C1q owing to the collagen-like stalk. Accumulating data indicate that a key function of ficolin is to recognize the carbohydrate moieties on pathogens as a pattern-recognition molecule. Two or three kinds of ficolin have been identified in each species of mammals. They are similar but with some differences in the expression site, location site, ligand-binding specificity and ability to form complexes with MBL-associated serine proteases (MASPs). Like MBL, some ficolins are serum lectins and can form a complex with MASPs and small MBL-associated protein (sMAP). This complex activates the complement through “the lectin pathway”. Our recent study suggests that ficolin acts through two distinct routes: the lectin pathway and a primitive opsonophagocytosis. All these observations suggest that ficolins function in clearance of non-self, based on their location sites and their molecular features.