title: Mannose-binding lectin genotypes: lack of association with susceptibility to thoracic empyema.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of the innate immune protein mannose-binding lectin (MBL) in host defence against severe respiratory infection remains controversial. Thoracic empyema is a suppurative lung infection that arises as a major complication of pneumonia and is associated with a significant mortality. Although the pathogenesis of thoracic empyema is poorly understood, genetic susceptibility loci for this condition have recently been identified. The possible role of MBL genotypic deficiency in susceptibility to thoracic empyema has not previously been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  To investigate this further we compared the frequencies of the six functional MBL polymorphisms in 170 European individuals with thoracic empyema and 225 healthy control individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No overall association was observed between MBL genotypic deficiency and susceptibility to thoracic empyema (2 x 2 Chi square = 0.02, P = 0.87). Furthermore, no association was seen between MBL deficiency and susceptibility to the Gram-positive or pneumococcal empyema subgroups. MBL genotypic deficiency did not associate with progression to death or requirement for surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that MBL genotypic deficiency does not associate with susceptibility to thoracic empyema in humans.
authors.affiliation: The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, UK. schapman@well.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Fredrik O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Vannberg
authors.forename: Chiea C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Khor
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rautanen
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Maskell
authors.forename: Christopher W H
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Catrin E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Nicholas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Derrick W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Crook
authors.forename: Robert J O
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Adrian V S
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin