MBL serum levels in patients with sepsis correlate with thyroid function but not with outcome

摘要

Complement mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a key component of innate immunity. In humans of Caucasian ethnicity polymorphisms within the coding and promoter regions lead to functional MBL deficiency in about one third of the population. MBL serum levels are mainly influenced by genetics, with only mild increases during acute inflammation. However, whereas intraindividual serum levels of MBL remain quite stable during life they may differ by up to 10-fold between individuals with identical genotypes. Evidence from several studies supports an association between functional MBL deficiency and the risk of infections, particularly when adaptive immunity is immature or compromised. In neonates and small children low MBL levels are associated with pneumonia and sepsis , and in hematopoietic stem-cell transplant recipients low MBL levels predict increased susceptibility to severe infections . In contrast, data on the role of MBL in immunocompetent adult patients are controversial.