Stable bronchiectasis is associated with low serum L‐ficolin concentrations

Abstract

Background and Aims: Bronchiectasis is a common chronic respiratory condition with recurrent cough and sputum production and recurrent chest infections. It is characterised by pathological dilatation of the bronchi thought to result from infection and inflammation. It was hypothesised that impaired innate immunity might influence susceptibility to this disease process. The aim of the present study was to look for an association between bronchiectasis and insufficiency of either mannan-binding lectin (MBL) or L-ficolin. Materials and Methods: MBL and L-ficolin were measured by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) in sera from 119 clinically stable bronchiectasis patients, and compared with 43 age-matched disease controls admitted to hospital with community-acquired pneumonia, as well as healthy blood donors (168 for L-ficolin and 564 for MBL). Results: Average (mean and median) serum L-ficolin concentrations were lower in the bronchiectasis patients (P < 0.04), but average MBL values did not differ significantly between the three groups. Relative L-ficolin deficiency was more frequent in bronchiectasis patients compared with blood donors (P Յ 0.002), whereas MBL insufficiency was associated with pneumonia. Conclusion: A relative lack of serum L-ficolin might predispose to the development of bronchiectasis, although other explanations for the observed association are possible.Please cite this paper as: Kilpatrick DC, Chalmers JD, MacDonald SL, Murray M, Mohammed A, Hart SP, Matsushita M and Hill A. Stable bronchiectasis is associated with low serum L-ficolin concentrations.

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Polymorphisms in the lectin pathway genes as a possible cause of early chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization in cystic fibrosis patients

“…FCN2 polymorphisms might be associated with respiratory diseases. Lower FCN2 serum level might predispose to the development of bronchiectasis [34]. Recently, FCN2 polymorphisms affecting serum levels and carbohydrate binding are associated with non-CF bronchiectasis and have increased susceptibility to colonization with Pa (Chalmers 2011).…”

Human L-Ficolin (Ficolin-2) and Its Clinical Significance

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