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Published on: November 25, 2017
Clinical potential of mannose-binding lectin-replacement therapy
1Division of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, London W2 1NY, UK. j.Summerfield@imperial.ac.uk
Biochemical Society Transactions
|July 31, 2003
Summary
Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) deficiency, genetically determined, is linked to infections and autoimmune diseases. MBL therapy shows potential for treating these conditions but requires further clinical trials for safety and efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a key innate immunity component.
- MBL levels are primarily genetically determined, with deficiency linked to various infections and non-infectious diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and cystic fibrosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of MBL deficiency in disease susceptibility and progression.
- To evaluate the potential therapeutic applications of MBL (plasma-derived or recombinant) therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on MBL deficiency and its clinical associations.
- Discussion of potential benefits and risks of MBL therapy.
Main Results:
- MBL deficiency is associated with increased susceptibility to infections and altered disease natural history (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis).
- MBL therapy may offer benefits in MBL-deficient individuals for infection recovery and as a disease-modifying drug.
- Potential risks include enhanced complement-mediated host damage.
Conclusions:
- MBL therapy holds promise for managing infections and certain chronic diseases, particularly in MBL-deficient patients.
- Further randomized controlled clinical trials are essential to establish the safety and efficacy of MBL therapy.
