Mannose-binding Lectin MBL2 Gene Polymorphisms and Outcome of Hepatitis C Virus-infected Patients

Abstract

These findings suggest that polymorphisms in MBL2 gene exon-1 region are related to low serum MBL levels and progression of HCV infection to liver inflammation and fibrosis.

Specific interaction of hepatitis C virus glycoproteins with mannan binding lectin inhibits virus entry

“…Studies of the relationship between HCV pathogenesis and MBL have examined correlations between MBL levels in circulation, MBL2 haplotype and disease severity or response to treatment. Overall, these studies indicate the potential for a role of MBL in HCV disease (Alves Pedroso et al, 2008;Koutsounaki et al, 2008). To date there have been no published studies on the biochemical interaction of MBL with HCV and only one measuring MBL function in relation to disease (Brown et al, 2007a).…”

“…As a factor in innate immunity, MBL has been implicated in the control of a range of infectious diseases including viral hepatitis caused by HBV and HCV (Chong et al, 2005;Brown et al, 2007b;Alves Pedroso et al, 2008;Koutsounaki et al, 2008). The precise role played by MBL in these diseases is unclear.…”

“…They have linked MBL polymorphisms to disease severity or potential response to treatment, associating mutant alleles with more aggressive disease or a poor response to therapy (Matsushita et al, 1998a, b;Sasaki et al, 2000;Alves Pedroso et al, 2008;Koutsounaki et al, 2008). MBL polymorphisms affect circulating levels of the protein and the number of lectin domains per molecule.…”

“…MBL polymorphisms affect circulating levels of the protein and the number of lectin domains per molecule. Some studies examined the relationship of serum levels of MBL were with disease outcomes (Kilpatrick et al, 2003;Brown et al, 2007a;Alves Pedroso et al, 2008;Koutsounaki et al, 2008). These studies implicate MBL in the pathogenesis of chronic HCV disease.…”

“…MBL has previously been shown to interact with a range of viruses, including HIV (Ying et al, 2004;Ji et al, 2005a), influenza (Anders et al, 1990;Malhotra et al, 1994) and Ebola (Ji et al, 2005b) viruses. Previous studies have identified MBL polymorphisms as factors that influence the course of HCV infection (Matsushita et al, 1998b;Sasaki et al, 2000;Koutsounaki et al, 2008). MBL has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of HCV infection (Endo et al, 2001;Brown et al, 2007a).…”