title: Mannan-binding lectin deficiency in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Europe has increased significantly. At least a fourth of patients are children. Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is believed to be an important component of innate immunity, acting as an opsonin and activator of the lectin pathway (LP) of complement. The data relating any of the LP factors to IBD are sparse and contradictory and were obtained mainly from adult patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of MBL in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  MBL2 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) and MBL concentrations (ELISA) were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of MBL2 gene variants responsible for MBL deficiency (LXPA/O and O/O) is significantly higher in CD patients compared with controls or children with UC. A relatively high frequency of the codon 52 mutation (D allele) was noted in these patients. Practically no difference was found between UC and control (C) groups. Similarly, the average MBL levels as well as the number of MBL-deficient (MBL concentrations < 150 ng/ml) individuals differed between CD patients and controls or children suffering from UC. Again, there was no difference between UC and C groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that MBL deficiency may be associated with CD but not with UC in pediatric patients. The possible role of MBL in IBD requires confirmation in larger series and further investigation of the mechanisms involved.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Nutrition in Digestive Tract Disease, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Leokadia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bak-Romaniszyn
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szala
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sokolowska
authors.forename: Grazyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mierzwa
authors.forename: Mieczyslawa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czerwionka-Szaflarska
authors.forename: Anna St
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Swierzko
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zeman
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cedzynski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: C445619:MBL2 protein, human; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin