C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) are an emerging family of pattern recognition receptors that
recognizes pathogens or damaged tissue to trigger innate immune responses. However,
endogenous ligands for CLRs are not fully understood. In this study, we sought to identify an
endogenous ligand (s) for human macrophage-inducible C-type lectin (hMincle). A particular
fraction of lipid extracts from liver selectively activated reporter cells expressing hMincle. MS
analysis determined the chemical structure of the active component as cholesterol. Purified …