title: Association of low concentrations of serum mannose-binding protein with recurrent infections in adults.
abstract: Low concentrations of mannose-binding protein (MBP; also known as mannose-binding lectin) are associated with common opsonic defect in immunodeficient children. We compared the concentrations of MBP in the sera of 47 adults with non-human immunodeficiency virus-related recurrent infections (group I) and 50 healthy adult controls. Mean serum MBP concentrations in the patient group did not differ significantly from those in the control group (P < 0.4). Nevertheless, the proportion of individuals with less than 5 ng of serum MBP per ml was significantly larger in the patient group (21%, P = 0.01) than in the control group (4%). Group II consisted of 73 pediatric and 56 adult patients with recurrent infections. Pediatric patients had significantly lower mean concentrations of serum MBP than their controls (P < 0.005), and there was no significant difference between the concentrations in sera of adult patients and adult controls (P < 0.4). Again, the proportion of individuals with less than 5 ng of serum MBP per ml was significantly larger in both pediatric (22%, P = 0.045) and adult (38%, P = 0.000016) patients than in their respective controls (4%). Our results demonstrate that, as in children, low concentrations of serum MBP can be associated with recurrent infections in adults.
authors.affiliation: Specialty Laboratories, Santa Monica, California 90404-3900, USA. VKakkanaiah@specialtylabs.com
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Kakkanaiah
authors.forename: G Q
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ojo-Amaize
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Peter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D037222:Collectins; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008358:Mannose / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D037222:Collectins; D008358:Mannose