Increased serum complement component 3 and mannose-binding lectin levels in adult Chinese patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the immune function of adult Chinese patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) to elucidate its potential role in the pathogenesis of CRS.


METHODS
A prospective three-arm case-control study. The study population comprised 72 CRS patients without nasal polyps (NPs), 95 CRS patients with NPs, and 110 healthy controls. The concentrations of serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), M (IgM), G (IgG), IgG subclasses (IgG1-4), complement component 3 (C3), and complement component 4 (C4) were measured by nephelometry. Serum mannose-binding lectin (MBL) levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All CRS patients had a complete blood count with differential, atopic status evaluation, coronal computed tomographic (CT) scan of the sinuses, and nasal endoscopy.


RESULTS
Frequency of immunoglobulin, C3, C4, or MBL deficiency showed no difference among groups. The prevalence of coexistence of MBL and immunoglobulin or complement component deficiency did not differ significantly among groups either. However, compared with controls, decreased IgG3 levels were found in CRS patients without NPs, and increased C3 and MBL levels was found in both CRS patients with and without NPs. Moreover, MBL levels were significantly higher in CRS patients with NPs than in CRS patients without NPs, which positively correlated with extent of disease seen on CT scan and endoscopy, and peripheral eosinophil count.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunoglobulin, C3, C4, and MBL deficiency is not the main cause of CRS in adult Chinese patients. However, on the contrary, increased C3 and MBL levels in serum might play a modulatory role in CRS development.
Cui
Yong-Hua
YH
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, PR China.
Zhang
Feng
F
Xiong
Zhi-Gang
ZG
You
Xue-Jun
XJ
Gao
Qi-Xue
QX
Liu
Zheng
Z
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000097:blood*; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D003176:Complement C3; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin