Serum Mannose-Binding Lectin Levels Are Correlated with the Disease Activity of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis: A Single-Center Study

Abstract

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a soluble pattern-recognition molecule, which plays a crucial role in the innate immune system and the activation of lectin complement pathway. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is an autoimmune disease affecting the small vasculatures and is characterized by the alteration of innate and adaptive immunity and complement activation. In this study, we investigated whether serum MBL is associated with disease activity of AAV, which was measured by ELISA. Associations between serum MBL and AAV-specific indices, as well as clinical and laboratory data were assessed using Kendall's tau. Among the 80 patients, 42 (52.5%), 21 (26.3), and 17 (21.3%) patients were classified as microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), respectively. The median values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and serum MBL were 36.5 (normal range < 20) mm/h, 2.4 (normal range < 8) mg/dL, and 8.6 ng/mL, respectively. The median serum levels of MBL in MPA, GPA, and EGPA patients were 8.4, 9.3, and 8.2 ng/mL. Correlation analysis showed that serum MBL was associated with Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) (R = 0.169, p = 0.027), but not with other AAV-specific indices and clinical and laboratory data. In addition, serum MBL was significantly associated with the pulmonary manifestation score based on BVAS (R = 0.247, p = 0.001). In summary, among the AAV-specific indices and clinical and laboratory variables analyzed, serum MBL is correlated with BVAS and pulmonary manifestation score based on the BVAS.

Clinical significance of HEp-2 cell cytoplasmic patterns in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis

“…MPA was the most frequent in AAV [19,20] . In the current study, 79.3% of AAV was diagnosed with MPA.…”

“…MPA was the most frequent in AAV. [ 19 , 20 ] In the current study, 79.3% of AAV was diagnosed with MPA. Previous studies have indicated that the positivity rate of ANA was higher in females than that in males.…”

Association between serum ficolin-1 level and disease progression in primary biliary cholangitis

“…There have been several reports about the association between PRMs and disease activity of autoimmune diseases. High serum MBL level was reported to be associated with thrombocytopenia and seizure in patients with SLE [22], and serum MBL was reported to be positively correlated with Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis [23]. In addition, serum ficolin-1 was positively correlated with disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [24] and juvenile idiopathic arthritis [25].…”

Ficolin‐3 and MASP‐2 gene variants in Siberian arctic populations: Summarized evidence of selective pressure for the high frequency of lectin complement pathway deficiency

“…Moreover, excessively high activity of the lectin pathway may be a risk factor for the predisposition and more severe course of certain diseases: infections caused by intracellular bacteria and parasites including leprosy, 43,45,46 tuberculosis, 31,47 leishmaniasis, 48,49 schistosomiasis, 50 pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Coxiella burnetii, 51 a hyperinflammatory syndrome in some infections, including SARS-CoV-2, [52][53][54] atherosclerosis and associated cardiovascular diseases, 26,[55][56][57] diabetes, [58][59][60][61] some forms of autoimmune diseases, in particular, through the regulation of transcription factors. [62][63][64] Currently, very successful attempts are being made to inhibit the lectin pathway of complement activation using monoclonal antibodies against MASP-2 (Narsoplimab, OMS721) in atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome (Clini calTr ials.gov Identifier: NCT03205995), IgA nephropathy, 65 thrombotic microangiopathy after stem cells transplantation, 66 as well as SARS-CoV-2. 67,68 A detailed review of the therapeutic possibilities of complement modulation is given in a recent review by Garred, Tenner, and Mollnes.…”