| Modification Notes |
H-ficolin (Ficolin-3, Collagen/fibrinogen domain-containing lectin 3 p35, Hakata antigen) is a 299 amino acid protein encoded by the human gene FCN3. H-ficolin belongs to the ficolin lectin family and contains one collagen-like domain and one fibrinogen C-terminal domain. Ficolins and mannose-binding lectin (MBL) are collagen-like defence proteins that serve as recognition molecules in lectin complement pathway. H-ficolin is a collagen-like defense molecule and is a known autoantigen in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Other collagen-like defense molecules, such as C1q, mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and L-ficolin, bind to apoptotic cells and mediate their clearance by phagocytic cells. Dysfunction in this mechanism is regarded as an important contributor to the pathophysiology of SLE. H-ficolin mediates the clearance of late apoptotic cells and is involved in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and might play a protective role against the development of autoimmunity. |