title: The potential role of the lectin pathway of complement in the host defence of full-term intrauterine growth restricted neonates at birth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively investigate the potential role of the lectin pathway of complement in intrauterine-growth-restriction (IUGR, associated with impaired immunocompetence and increased risk for neonatal infections), by determining cord blood concentrations of mannose-binding lectin (MBL), H-ficolin and L-ficolin (important mediators of neonatal innate immunity) in IUGR and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) pregnancies. Furthermore, we aimed to describe correlations among cord blood MBL, H- and L-ficolin concentrations and with several demographic parameters of the infants at birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum MBL, H- and L-ficolin concentrations were determined by ELISA in 154 mixed arteriovenous cord blood samples from IUGR (n = 50) and AGA (n = 104) singleton full-term infants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cord blood MBL concentrations were significantly lower in IUGR cases than AGA controls (p = 0.029). No differences in cord blood H- and L-ficolin concentrations were observed between groups. In the IUGR group, cord blood MBL concentrations negatively correlated with respective L-ficolin ones (r = -0.442, p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relatively decreased MBL expression in IUGR fetuses at term could possibly contribute to IUGR-associated neonatal immunodeficiency, predisposing to increased susceptibility to infections. The negative correlation between MBL and L-ficolin concentrations in the IUGR group might suggest an underlying immune variation and needs to be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Division, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Despina D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Briana
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liosi
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gourgiotis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boutsikou
authors.forename: Stavroula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baka
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marmarinos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hassiakos
authors.forename: Ariadne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malamitsi-Puchner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D037582:Complement Pathway, Mannose-Binding Lectin; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000097604:Ficolins
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin; D000097604:Ficolins; C109662:FCN3 protein, human