Collectin-mediated innate immune defense in the lung

The focus of attention in immunology has classically been the adaptive immune system. The adaptive immune system is most effective when the host has had prior exposure to the pathogen. Accruing evidence suggests that the innate immune system plays an important role in the regulation of the adaptive immune response and in filling the temporal gap in host immunity. Pattern recognition molecules such as collectins are important components of the innate immune system. Herein we describe the structural aspects and immunological functions of the two lung collectins surfactant protein A (SP-A) and SP-D. Important clinical applications of pulmonary collectin research include the use of SP-A and -D in diagnosis and therapy. This survey focuses on the interactions of SP-A and -D with a wide variety of respiratory pathogens and the regulation of the immune cell response by these collectins.