title: Effects of mannose-binding lectin and mannose-binding lectin polymorphisms on treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The natural course and clinical outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is related to the interaction between HCV and the immune response of the host. Only a limited number of studies have investigated the role of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) levels in HCV infection. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between MBL levels and gene polymorphisms on treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum MBL levels from 50 CHC patients who completed treatment at least 24 weeks before the present study and 75 healthy HCV-negative controls were measured. In addition, the presence of codon 54 mutations was investigated. Correlational analyses were performed to determine relationships between MBL levels and treatment response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients, mean serum MBL levels were lower and the rate of codon 54 mutations was higher. However, these differences were not statically significant. In both patients and controls, serum MBL levels were significantly lower in individuals with codon 54 mutations. Moreover, serum MBL levels and the rate of the codon 54 mutation were similar in patients regardless of treatment response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that low MBL levels do not increase the susceptibility for HCV infection. Furthermore, MBL levels were not found to have a significant effect on the course of the disease or treatment response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey. skomur@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Süheyla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kömür
authors.forename: Ayşe Seza
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: İnal
authors.forename: Aslıhan Candevir
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ulu
authors.forename: Behice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kurtaran
authors.forename: Yeşim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taşova
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Salih
authors.forename: Zeki
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Aksu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin