Association of low levels of mannan-binding protein with a common defect of opsonisation
Failure to opsonise bakers' yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is a defect found in 5-7% of
the general population. In this study, the presence of the defect was linked with low levels of
mannan-binding protein (MBP), a calcium-dependent serum lectin. Purified MBP corrected
the defect in a dose-dependent way in an in-vitro assay measuring the deposition of
complement moieties on a mannan-coated surface. There was a highly significant
correlation between the serum MBP level and the generation of C3b opsonins in a …
the general population. In this study, the presence of the defect was linked with low levels of
mannan-binding protein (MBP), a calcium-dependent serum lectin. Purified MBP corrected
the defect in a dose-dependent way in an in-vitro assay measuring the deposition of
complement moieties on a mannan-coated surface. There was a highly significant
correlation between the serum MBP level and the generation of C3b opsonins in a …
Abstract
Failure to opsonise bakers' yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is a defect found in 5-7% of the general population. In this study, the presence of the defect was linked with low levels of mannan-binding protein (MBP), a calcium-dependent serum lectin. Purified MBP corrected the defect in a dose-dependent way in an in-vitro assay measuring the deposition of complement moieties on a mannan-coated surface. There was a highly significant correlation between the serum MBP level and the generation of C3b opsonins in a population of healthy blood donors. The median MBP level of ten children previously shown to have the functional opsonic defect was 4·9 μg/l (range 2·5-35·0 μg/l) compared with 143 μg/l (range 2·5-880 μg/l) for a paediatric control group.
Elsevier