Low Mannose Binding Lectin, but Not L-Ficolin, Is Associated With Spontaneous Clearance of Hepatitis C Virus After Infection

Abstract

Some individuals can spontaneously clear the hepatitis C virus (HCV) after infection, whereas others develop a chronic infection. The exact mechanism of this phenomenon is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the association of plasma levels of MBL, L-ficolin, and cytokines with outcome of HCV infections in two groups of patients who cleared HCV spontaneously (CHS), and who developed chronic HCV infections (CHC). Altogether, 86 patients and 183 healthy controls were included. Of 86 patients, 36 had CHS and 50 had CHC. Concentrations of plasma MBL and L-ficolin were measured in patients and controls. Twenty plasma cytokines and adhesion molecules, including GM-CSF, ICAM-1, IFN-γ, IFN-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-4, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, IL-6, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, sE-Selectin, sP-Selectin, and TNF-α, were determined in all patients and randomly selected 45 controls. The level of MBL was significantly lower in subjects with CHS than in healthy controls (median: 293.10 vs. 482.64 ng/ml, p = 0.008), whereas the level of MBL was significantly higher in patients with CHC than in controls (median: 681.32 vs. 482.64 ng/ml, p = 0.001). No such differences in plasma L-ficolin were observed. Plasma levels of all cytokines and adhesion molecules, except ICAM-1, were significantly higher in patients than in controls. Moreover, patients with CHC had significantly higher levels of IFN-γ, IFN-α, IL-1α, IL-10, IL-13, IL-4, IL-6, and TNF-α than those with CHS. These findings implicate that lower levels of plasma MBL, together with lower levels of above mentioned cytokines may play a part in virus clearance of HCV infection.

Mannose-binding lectin gene 2 variant DD (rs 5030737) is associated with susceptibility to COVID-19 infection in the urban population of Patna City (India)

“…A study has already reported that low levels of MBL help in eliminating the hepatitis C virus (Zhang et al 2020 ). In contrast, higher serum MBL levels positively correlate to the mortality risk in ICU patients with A(H1N1) pdm09 infection (Zogheib et al 2018 ).…”

Decreased mannan-binding lectin level in adults with hypopituitarism; dependence on appropriate hormone replacement therapies

“…Although the concentration of MBL is genetically determined, there are some other factors affecting MBL level such as bacterial infection, for example caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae ( 3 ) or viral infection resulting in hepatitis C ( 4 ) or COVID-19 ( 5 ).…”