Mannose-binding lectin as part of the complement pathway: characterization in non-inflamed and inflamed human eyes.

Background: Mannose-binding lectin plays a central effector role in the lectin pathway of complement activation. Frequently occurring MBL2 polymorphisms result in mannose-binding lectin deficiency, which increases susceptibility to infection. We characterized mannose-binding lectin levels and function in non-inflamed and inflamed human eyes, and evaluated its relationship to blood mannose-binding lectin levels and function.

Design: Prospective, observational clinical study with controls and cases.

Participants: Twenty-seven patients with paired blood and ocular samples (aqueous and/or vitreous) including 15 controls (non-inflamed) and 12 cases (inflamed).

Methods: Blood and ocular samples were collected from controls (n = 15) with quiet eyes during elective cataract surgery and cases with inflamed eyes including proven/suspected endophthalmitis (n = 11) and herpetic retinal vasculitis (n = 1). Mannan-binding and C4 deposition enzyme-linked quantify mannose-binding lectin levels and function.

Main Outcome Measures: Blood and ocular mannose-binding lectin levels and function.

Results: Of 27 patients, 10 (37%) were mannose-binding lectin-deficient (defined as blood mannose-binding lectin levels <500 ng/mL). Blood mannose-binding lectin levels (P= 0.16) or function (P= 0.43) were not significantly different between controls and cases. As expected, there was a high correlation between blood mannose-binding lectin levels and function (r(2) = 0.74). However, there was significantly more mannose-binding lectin in inflamed eyes than non-inflamed eyes measured as level (P < 0.01) or C4 deposition function (P < 0.01).

Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that mannose-binding lectin is significantly elevated in inflamed human eyes but virtually undetectable in non-inflamed control eyes, suggesting a role in sight-threatening ocular inflammation.