Significant elevations in serum mannose-binding lectin levels in patients with chronic renal failure.
OBJECTIVE
Mannose-binding lectin (MBL), a liver-derived C-type serum lectin, activates the complement cascade through the lectin pathway. Since the complement system contributes to the host defense against infections and mediates inflammatory processes including atherosclerosis, and since chronic renal failure (CRF) patients are prone to the development of infectious complications and cardiovascular disease, we focused on serum MBL levels in CRF patients who were either uremic, or who were receiving hemodialysis treatment.


METHODS
MBL levels were measured in the sera of subjects with CRF before they began dialysis treatment (pre-HD patients; n = 23) and in the sera of subjects who were receiving maintenance hemodialysis (HD patients; n = 178), by ELISA using polyclonal anti-rabbit IgG and a monoclonal antibody directed against MBL (3E7).


METHODS
Mean levels (+/- SD) of serum MBL were significantly higher in pre-HD subjects (4.343 +/- 2.533 microg/ml, p < 0.05) and in HD subjects (8.897 +/- 4.920 microg/ml, p < 0.05), than in healthy controls (1.452 +/- 0.692 microg/ml). Levels were also significantly higher in HD subjects than in pre-HD subjects (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated serum MBL levels in patients with CRF might have significantly influence pathologic conditions such as alterations of the immune system and acceleration of atherogenesis.
Satomura
Atsushi
A
Division of Nephrology, Internal Medicine II, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Endo
Morita
M
Ohi
Hiroyuki
H
Sudo
Sukemasa
S
Ohsawa
Isao
I
Fujita
Takayuki
T
Matsushita
Misao
M
Fujita
Teizo
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis
D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein