CR1 and autoimmune disease: In addition to the binding ability of MBL to the carbohydrates of microorganisms, accumulating data indicate that MBL can enhance the uptake of apoptotic cells and immune complexes by the interaction with its receptors on the cell surface, such as C1q phagocytic receptor C1qRp (CD93), cC1qR (CRT) and CR1 (CD35), which might play a protective role in the development of autoimmune diseases [19]–[25].