title: Mannose-binding lectin 2 (MBL2) gene polymorphisms do not influence frequency of infections in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infectious complications represent the main cause of morbidity and mortality in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It has been reported that polymorphisms of the mannosebinding lectin 2 (MBL2) genes are correlated with MBL protein serum levels and, consequently, are associated with the development of infectious diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible association between MBL2 gene polymorphisms and risk of infection in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood samples from 116 chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients were collected; after genomic DNA extraction, real time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the polymorphisms of the promoter region and exon 1 of the MBL2 gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A high frequency of Binet stage A (p-value = 0.005) and absence of splenomegaly (p-value = 0.002) were observed in patients with no infection; however, variant alleles/ genotypes and haplotypes of this gene had no impact on the risk of infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study describing the association between MBL2 polymorphisms and infectious disease in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Although it was not possible to demonstrate any influence of MBL2 polymorphisms as a genetic modulator of infection in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the authors believe that the present data are clinically relevant and provide the basis for future studies.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holanda
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio Roberto
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lucena-Araujo
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adônis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quintas
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Taciana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aleide
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luydson Richardson
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti
authors.affiliation: Fundação de Hematologia e Hemoterapia de Pernambuco (HEMOPE), Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cíntia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Fundação de Hematologia e Hemoterapia de Pernambuco (HEMOPE), Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aderson Silva
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Andre
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bezerra
keywords: B-cell; Infection; Leukemia lymphocytic chronic; Mannose-binding lectin; Polymorphism single nucleotide