Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Identification and Characterization of Immunogenic RNA Species in HDM Allergens that Modulate Eosinophilic Lung Inflammation
Published on: May 30, 2020
Mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphism contributes to recurrence of infective exacerbation in patients with COPD
Chii-Lan Lin1, Leung-Kei Siu, Jung-Chung Lin
1Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Background:
Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) deficiency is associated with susceptibility to respiratory infections. We investigated the impact of MBL2 gene polymorphisms and MBL deficiency on the recurrence of infective exacerbation in patients with COPD.
Methods:
A prospective study was conducted among 215 patients with COPD and 137 healthy subjects. MBL deficiency was determined by the MBL2 gene polymorphisms and serum levels of MBL.
Results:
The average frequency of infective exacerbations over 3 years in the 215 patients with COPD was 2.5 ± 1.3 episodes. The COPD group with three or more episodes of infective exacerbation (recurrent exacerbators) included 96 patients, and the remaining 119 patients had two or fewer episodes (less-frequent exacerbators). Among the 96 recurrent exacerbators, 12 (12.50%) had the MBL deficiency genotype compared with 5 (4.20%) among the less-frequent exacerbators (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.01-11.07; P = .0253). In recurrent exacerbators, the frequency of infective exacerbation was significantly higher in patients with MBL-deficient genotypes than in those with non-MBL-deficient genotypes (4.75 ± 1.22 vs 3.52 ± 0.78, respectively; P < .0001). In addition, mortality was significantly increased in recurrent exacerbators with MBL-deficient genotypes compared with those with non-MBL-deficient genotypes (66.7% vs 31.0%, respectively; P = .0153).
Conclusions:
MBL deficiency due to MBL2 polymorphisms increases the risk of recurrent infective exacerbation and worsens its outcome in patients with COPD.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Exon Recombination
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
