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A Low Serum Concentration of Mannan‐Binding Protein is Not Associated with Serogroup B or C Meningococcal Disease
Author(s) -
GARRED P.,
MICHAELSEN T. E.,
BJUNE G.,
THIEL S.,
SVEJGAARD A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1993.tb03320.x
Subject(s) - meningococcal disease , mannan binding lectin , immunology , complement system , neisseria meningitidis , antibody , medicine , alternative complement pathway , biology , lectin , bacteria , genetics
The mammalian C‐type serum lectin, mannan‐binding protein (MBP), may induce Clq‐ and antibody‐independent activation of the classical pathway of complement. Accordingly, MBP is considered as a member of the complement system. Complement deficiencies have been found with increased frequency in patients with meningococcal disease. Therefore, we investigated the MBP levels in patients with meningococcal disease. Ninety‐nine Norwegian individuals (age 12–21 years) who survived severe systemic disease caused by serogroup B or C meningococci were investigated. No significant differences were observed in the MBP concentration between patients with serogroup B (n = 76) or C (n = 25) disease and healthy blood donor controls (n = 40) (P >0.05). The frequency of patients with low levels of MBP (< 100 μg/1) was 10.1%. This was not different from controls (12.5%). Thus, low MBP concentrations do not appear to predispose to serogroup B or C meningococcal disease.