Anti-FCN1/M-Ficolin antibody

Supplementary info

Activity summary

FCN1 also known as M-Ficolin or ficolin-1 is a pattern recognition molecule part of the innate immune system. It plays a role in recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) on the surface of microbes. FCN1 is a 35 kDa protein predominantly expressed in the liver and secreted into the bloodstream. It consists of a collagen-like domain and a fibrinogen-like recognition domain allowing it to effectively bind its targets. The protein occurs in plasma where it particularly acts in host defense mechanisms.

Biological function summary

FCN1 functions as part of the body’s first line of immune defense by binding to microbial surfaces facilitating the opsonization and activation of the lectin complement pathway. It is a member of a complex known as the lectin pathway of complement activation which includes MASP1 and MASP2 proteins. FCN1 triggers this pathway when it recognizes patterns such as N-acetylglucosamine on the surface of pathogens which is important for initiating the immune response and promoting pathogen clearance through complement activation in cooperation with other components of the pathway.

Pathways

FCN1 primarily participates in the lectin complement pathway distinctively different from the classical and alternative pathways. It interacts with MASP proteins to trigger the cleavage of complement proteins which leads to a cascade that results in inflammation opsonization and pathogen lysis. FCN1 connections also extend to other pattern recognition receptors such as those in the toll-like receptor pathway which harmonize to ensure a robust immune response by recognizing wide array of pathogen motifs.

Associated diseases and disorders

FCN1 involvement has been observed in several conditions notably systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and bacterial infections. Alterations or deficiencies in FCN1 levels can influence susceptibility to infections due to compromised opsonization and pathogen clearance. In SLE FCN1 and its associated pathway proteins may contribute to the disease pathogenesis by affecting complement system activity leading to autoimmune and inflammatory responses. Understanding these associations aids in unraveling the complex network of immune response regulation and disease development.