p 144: sunflower mannose binding lectin-associated serine protease inhibitor-1 (sfmi-1) and -2: significant inhibitors of mannose binding lectin pathway which helps in multiple sclerosis treatment

one of the important parts of innate immunity is complement system that occurs in three different ways; the classic, the alternative and the lectin pathway. the four pattern recognition molecules that have been identified till now are mannose binding lectin (mbl), a component of lectin pathway, and three ficolins (ficolin1,-2 and -3) which compound to the carbohydrates of the cell surface. mbl associated serine protease1 (masp-1), masp-2 and -3 are three proteases which associate with recognition molecules. also mbl-associated protein 19 and mbl-associated protein 44 are two non-catalytic molecules that their role is association with recognition molecules. masp-1 and masp-2 activate the lectin pathway but function of masp-3 is unclear. although some researches show that masp-3 down regulates activation of two other masps and has a similar role like mbl-association 19 and mbl-association 44 that they inhibit mbl pathway too. researches show that mbl pathway has a critical role in pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (ms). researches indicate that levels of mbl pathway activator components (masp-1 and masp-2) are higher in serum plasma of ms patients. inhibiting activators of mbl pathway seems to be useful for ms treatment and reducing its disabilities. sunflower masp inhibitor-1 (sfmi-1) and sunflower masp inhibitor-2 (sfmi-2) are two peptides with 14 amino acids that inhibit masp-1 and masp-2 and block the lectin pathway activation. this article suggests using sfmi-1 and sfmi-2 in drugs to targeted therapy of ms and decreasing its symptoms.