Angelica Beate Winter Boldt, Laboratório de Imunopatologia Molecular - Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, BR. iarareason@hc.ufpr.br
The gene MASP2 (mannan-binding lectin (MBL)-associated serine protease 2) encodes two proteins, MASP-2 and MAp19 (MBL-associated protein of 19 kDa), bound in plasma to MBL and ficolins. The binding of MBL/MASP-2 and ficolin/MASP-2 complexes to microorganisms activates the lectin pathway of complement and may increase the ingestion of intracellular pathogens such as Mycobacterium leprae.