title: Mannose-binding lectin as part of the complement pathway: characterization in non-inflamed and inflamed human eyes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mannose-binding lectin plays a central effector role in the lectin pathway of complement activation. Frequently occurring MBL2 polymorphisms result in mannose-binding lectin deficiency, which increases susceptibility to infection. We characterized mannose-binding lectin levels and function in non-inflamed and inflamed human eyes, and evaluated its relationship to blood mannose-binding lectin levels and function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, observational clinical study with controls and cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven patients with paired blood and ocular samples (aqueous and/or vitreous) including 15 controls (non-inflamed) and 12 cases (inflamed).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood and ocular samples were collected from controls (n = 15) with quiet eyes during elective cataract surgery and cases with inflamed eyes including proven/suspected endophthalmitis (n = 11) and herpetic retinal vasculitis (n = 1). Mannan-binding and C4 deposition enzyme-linked quantify mannose-binding lectin levels and function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood and ocular mannose-binding lectin levels and function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 27 patients, 10 (37%) were mannose-binding lectin-deficient (defined as blood mannose-binding lectin levels <500 ng/mL). Blood mannose-binding lectin levels (P= 0.16) or function (P= 0.43) were not significantly different between controls and cases. As expected, there was a high correlation between blood mannose-binding lectin levels and function (r(2) = 0.74). However, there was significantly more mannose-binding lectin in inflamed eyes than non-inflamed eyes measured as level (P < 0.01) or C4 deposition function (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrated that mannose-binding lectin is significantly elevated in inflamed human eyes but virtually undetectable in non-inflamed control eyes, suggesting a role in sight-threatening ocular inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Vic. 3002, Australia. sing-pey.chow@eyeandear.org.au
authors.forename: Sing-Pey
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Melinda M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: Jozef A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Depla
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Daniell
authors.forename: Damon P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Eisen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000097:blood; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D037582:Complement Pathway, Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000502:physiology*; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D031300:Retinal Vasculitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003181:Complement C4; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin