title: Mannan-binding lectin in cardiovascular disease.
abstract: Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide so research continues into underlying mechanisms. Since innate immunity and its potent component mannan-binding lectin have been proven to play an important role in the inflammatory response during infection and ischaemia-reperfusion injury, attention has been paid to its role in the development of cardiovascular complications as well. This review provides a general outline of the structure and genetic polymorphism of MBL and its role in inflammation/tissue injury with emphasis on associations with cardiovascular disease. MBL appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and, in consequence, coronary artery disease and also inflammation and tissue injury after myocardial infarction and heart transplantation. The relationship between MBL and disease is rather complex and depends on different genetic and environmental factors. That could be why the data obtained from animal and clinical studies are sometimes contradictory proving not for the first time that innate immunity is a "double-edge sword," sometimes beneficial and, at other times disastrous for the host.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Institute, Rzgowska 281/289, 93-338 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4323-7214
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pągowska-Klimek
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunobiology of Infections, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodowa 106, 93-232 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cedzyński
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin