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Updated: Apr 4, 2026
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Metabolic Glycoengineering of Sialic Acid Using N-acyl-modified Mannosamines
Published on: November 25, 2017
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Dietary sugars inhibit biologic functions of the pattern recognition molecule, mannose-binding lectin
Kazue Takahashi1, Wei-Chuan Chang1, Patience Moyo1
1Program of Developmental Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
Open Journal of Immunology
|April 3, 2026
Summary
Dietary fructose suppresses mannose-binding lectin (MBL) immune functions against influenza A virus and Staphylococcus aureus. This sugar negatively impacts innate immunity, affecting pathogen defense mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a key pattern recognition molecule in the innate immune system.
- MBL recognizes carbohydrate structures on pathogens, initiating immune responses.
- Understanding how dietary factors influence MBL function is crucial for immune health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of dietary sugars, specifically fructose and sucrose, on MBL-mediated innate immunity.
- To determine the impact of fructose and sucrose on MBL's interaction with influenza A virus (IAV) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).
Main Methods:
- Assessed MBL-mediated lectin complement pathway activation against IAV and S. aureus.
- Evaluated MBL-mediated coagulation enzyme-like activities on pathogens.
- Measured MBL-mediated phagocytosis of S. aureus and IAV.
- Quantified MBL-mediated IAV infection of epithelial cells.
Main Results:
- Fructose significantly down-regulates MBL-mediated immune mechanisms against both IAV and S. aureus.
- Fructose reduces MBL-mediated phagocytosis of S. aureus and IAV, and MBL-dependent IAV infection.
- Sucrose inhibits MBL-mediated immunity against S. aureus but not IAV.
Conclusions:
- Dietary sugars, particularly fructose, negatively regulate innate immunity.
- Fructose impairs MBL's defense capabilities against both viral and bacterial pathogens.
- These findings highlight the potential impact of diet on susceptibility to infections.
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