The role of mannose-binding lectin in pneumococcal infection.

The role of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) deficiency (MBL2; XA/O and O/O genotypes) in host defences remains controversial. The surfactant proteins (SP)-A1, -A2 and -D, other collectins whose genes are located near MBL2, are part of the first-line lung defence against infection. We analysed the role of MBL on susceptibility to pneumococcal infection and the existence of linkage disequilibrium (LD) among the four genes.

Variants at the promoter of the interleukin-6 gene are associated with severity and outcome of pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia.

Purpose: Conflicting results about the role of genetic variability at IL6, particularly the -174 G/C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), in sepsis have been reported. We studied the genetic variability at IL6 in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and pneumococcal CAP (P-CAP).

Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective observational study.

The Fcγ receptor IIA-H/H131 genotype is associated with bacteremia in pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia.

Objective: To assess the potential association of the functional polymorphism rs1801274 in the receptor IIa for the Fc portion of immunoglobin G (FcγRIIa) gene (FCGR2A-H131R) with the susceptibility to and the severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Design: Multicenter prospective and observational study.

Setting: Four university hospitals in Spain.

Influence of genetic variability at the surfactant proteins A and D in community-acquired pneumonia: a prospective, observational, genetic study.

Introduction: Genetic variability of the pulmonary surfactant proteins A and D may affect clearance of microorganisms and the extent of the inflammatory response. The genes of these collectins (SFTPA1, SFTPA2 and SFTPD) are located in a cluster at 10q21-24. The objective of this study was to evaluate the existence of linkage disequilibrium (LD) among these genes, and the association of variability at these genes with susceptibility and outcome of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Genetic variability in the severity and outcome of community-acquired pneumonia.

Background: Several studies have investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in candidate genes associated with susceptibility, severity or outcome in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with conflicting results.

Methods: Multi-centre, prospective observational study. We studied 1162 white Spanish patients with CAP and 1413 controls.