THE MANNOSE RECEPTOR IS A PATTERN-RECOGNITION RECEPTOR INVOLVED IN HOST-DEFENSE

The mannose receptor recognizes the patterns of carbohydrates that dec orate the surfaces and cell walls of infectious agents. This macrophag e and dendritic cell pattern-recognition receptor mediates endocytosis and phagocytosis. The mannose receptor is the prototype of a new fami ly of multilectin receptor proteins (membrane-spanning receptors conta ining eight-ten lectin-like domains, which appear to play a key role i n host defense) and provides a link between innate and adaptive immuni ty. Recent advances include the identification of three new members of the mannose receptor family, additional work on defining the molecula r requirements for sugar binding, a role for the mannose receptor in a ntigen presentation of lipoglycan antigens and evidence that the manno se receptor is associated with a signal transduction pathway leading t o cytokine production.