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Published on: August 12, 2020
Clinical associations of complement-activating collectins, collectin-10, collectin-11 and mannose-binding lectin in
Gabriela Gajek1, Soren W K Hansen2, Dariusz Jarych1
1Laboratory of Immunobiology of Infections, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Łódź, Poland.
Insights
Collectin levels in preterm infants are linked to complications like respiratory distress and infection. Lower concentrations of collectin-10 (CL-10), collectin-11 (CL-11), and mannose-binding lectin (MBL) are associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Immunology
- Innate Immune System
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Premature and low-birthweight infants face high risks of perinatal complications, including impaired thermoregulation, infections, and respiratory distress.
- These adverse outcomes contribute to high mortality rates among preterm neonates.
- The role of the innate immune system, specifically collectins, in preterm infants requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the levels of collectin-10 (CL-10), collectin-11 (CL-11), and mannose-binding lectin (MBL) in preterm neonates.
- To determine the association between collectin levels and various perinatal complications in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Cord blood samples were collected from 535 preterm infants (gestational age ≤37 weeks).
- COLEC10, COLEC11, and MBL2 polymorphisms were analyzed using real-time PCR and PCR/PCR-RFLP.
- Collectin concentrations in cord serum were quantified using ELISA.
Main Results:
- Low CL-10 concentrations were associated with earlier gestational age (≤32 weeks) and fetal growth restriction.
- Significantly lower median levels of CL-10 and CL-11 were observed in infants with very low birthweight, low Apgar scores, and prolonged hospitalization.
- Decreased concentrations of CL-10, CL-11, and MBL were found in infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS); CL-10 also influenced susceptibility to early-onset infections.
Conclusions:
- Complement-activating collectins (MBL, CL-10, CL-11) play a role in maintaining homeostasis in preterm neonates.
- These collectins exhibit distinct clinical associations despite structural similarities.
- Collectin levels serve as potential biomarkers for predicting adverse outcomes in preterm infants.
Introduction:
Premature and low-birthweight infants are at especially high risk of perinatal complications, including impaired thermoregulation, infections and respiratory distress. Such adverse effects and the need for invasive procedures are associated with high mortality among preterms. This study focused on the influence of the innate immune system and tested the levels of collectins, collectin-10 (CL-10), collectin-11 (CL-11) and mannose-binding lectin (MBL) in preterm neonates.
Methods:
Cord blood was collected from 535 preterms (born at gestational age ≤37 weeks). COLEC10 and COLEC11 polymorphisms were analyzed by real-time PCR and those of MBL2 by PCR/PCR-RFLP. The concentrations of collectins in sera from cord blood were determined with ELISA.
Findings:
Low concentrations of CL-10 in cord sera (<462 ng/ml corresponding to the 10th percentile) were significantly associated with births at GA ≤32 weeks. Median levels of both CL-10 and CL-11 were significantly lower in preterms with very low birthweight (<1500 g), low Apgar 1' score and those who needed prolonged hospitalisation. Lower median CL-10 was also observed in fetal growth restriction cases. An important finding was the decreased concentrations of CL-10, CL-11 and MBL in respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). For CL-10 and CL-11, that relationship was confined to infants born at GA ≥33 weeks and/or with body mass at birth ≥1500 g. Only CL-10 was found to influence susceptibility to early-onset infections. COLEC11 heterozygosity for the activity-decreasing polymorphism (rs7567833, +39618 A>G, His219Arg) was more common in preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM) cases, compared with corresponding reference groups. Furthermore, C/T or T/T genotypes at COLEC11 at rs3820897 (-9570 C>T) as well as MBL deficiency-associated MBL2 gene variants were more common in preterms diagnosed with RDS than among unaffected newborns.
Conclusion:
The complement-activating collectins investigated here could be important for maintaining homeostasis in preterm neonates. Despite similar structure and specificity, MBL, CL-10 and CL-11 manifest a different spectrum of clinical associations.
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