Role of the mannose receptor in the immune response

The mannose receptor (MR) recognizes a range of carbohydrates present on the surface and cell walls of micro-organisms. The MR is primarily expressed on macrophages and dendritic cells and is involved in MR-mediated endocytosis and phagocytosis. In addition, the MR plays a key role in host defense and provides a link between innate and adaptive immunity. Herein, we will review the role of the MR in innate host defense as well as the recent evidence for its role in the adaptive response, for both humoral and cellular immune responses.