title: Mannose binding lectin deposition in skin of lupus erythematosus patients: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mannose binding lectin (MBL) has been linked to predisposition to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to disease activity. Some studies found deposits of MBL in glomerular tissue of patients with lupus nephritis. There is no research about the deposition of MBL in skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin biopsies from lesional and non lesional skin of 4 discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and 10 SLE patients were submitted to immunofluorescence staining for IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4, C1q, C5b-9 and MBL. Charts were reviewed for demographic, clinical and serological data. Patients with SLE had disease activity measured by SLEDAI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MBL was found only in SLE lesional skin and its presence showed an association trend towards higher disease activity. Deposition of C5b-9 occurred in vessels only in patients with SLE (70%) and in the two patients with kidney involvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MBL deposition was found in the lesional skin of SLE patients but not in SLE non lesional skin nor in DLE patients, and it seems to be less frequent and less strong than observed in the kidneys biopsies, suggesting that the complement participation in the pathophysiology of SLE process may not be the same in these two clinical manifestations.
authors.affiliation: Medicine Department, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Rheumatology Unit, Hospital Universitário Evangélico de Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Liz Ribeiro
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Wallim
authors.affiliation: Medicine Department, Positivo University, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: renatonisihara@up.edu.br.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nisihara
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Hospital Universitário Evangélico de Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thelma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skare
authors.affiliation: Immunopathology Laboratory, Clinical Hospital, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valmir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mocelin
authors.affiliation: Immunopathology Laboratory, Clinical Hospital, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Iara J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Messias-Reason
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015922:Complement C1q / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin; D015922:Complement C1q
keywords: Biopsy; Lupus; MBL; Skin