title: Mannose-binding lectin and susceptibility to schistosomiasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human ficolin 2 (encoded by FCN2) and mannose-binding lectin (encoded by MBL2) bind to specific pathogen-associated molecular patterns, activate the complement lectin cascade in a similar manner, and are associated with several infectious diseases. Our recently published study established certain FCN2 promoter variants and ficolin-2 serum levels as protective factors against schistosomiasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the Nigerian cohort from our recently published study, which included 163 Schistosoma haematobium-infected individuals and 183 matched healthy subjects, and investigated whether MBL deficiency and MBL2 polymorphisms are associated with schistosomiasis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MBL serum levels were significantly higher in controls and were associated with protection (P < .0001). The -550H minor allele was significantly associated with protection (P = .03), and the heterozygous genotypes -550HL were observed to confer protection (P = .03). The MBL2*HYPA haplotype was significantly associated with protection (P = .03), with significantly higher serum MBL levels in controls (P = .00073). The heterozygous 6-bp deletion in the promoter was observed to be a susceptibility factor in schistosomiasis (P = .03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In agreement with findings from our recently published study, the findings reported here support the observation that MBL is also associated with protection in schistosomiasis.
authors: Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors: Justin S
authors: JS
authors: Antony
authors: Olusola
authors: O
authors: Ojurongbe
authors: Hoang
authors: H
authors: van Tong
authors: Eman Abou
authors: EA
authors: Ouf
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Engleitner
authors: Akeem A
authors: AA
authors: Akindele
authors: Olawumi R
authors: OR
authors: Sina-Agbaje
authors: Adegboyega O
authors: AO
authors: Adeyeba
authors: Peter G
authors: PG
authors: Kremsner
authors: Thirumalaisamy P
authors: TP
authors: Velavan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C445619:MBL2 protein, human; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin