The potential role of the lectin pathway of complement in the host defence of full-term intrauterine growth restricted neonates at birth

• Published in: The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine 2012-05, Vol.25 (5), p.531-534
• Main Authors: Briana, Despina D., Liosi, Sofia, Gourgiotis, Dimitrios, Boutsikou, Maria, Baka, Stavroula, Marmarinos, Antonios, Hassiakos, Dimitrios, Malamitsi-Puchner, Ariadne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biomarkers - blood; Complement Pathway, Mannose-Binding Lectin; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Fetal Blood - chemistry; Fetal Growth Retardation - blood; Fetal Growth Retardation - immunology; Ficolins; Glycoproteins - blood; H-ficolin; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Infant, Newborn; L-ficolin; Lectins - blood; Linear Models; Male; mannose-binding lectin; Mannose-Binding Lectin - blood; neonate; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; umbilical cord blood
• ISSN: 1476-7058; 1476-4954
• DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2011.636108

Objective: To prospectively investigate the potential role of the lectin pathway of complement in intrauterine-growth-restriction (IUGR, associated with impaired immunocompetence and increased risk for neonatal infections), by determining cord blood concentrations of mannose-binding lectin (MBL), H-ficolin and L-ficolin (important mediators of neonatal innate immunity) in IUGR and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) pregnancies. Furthermore, we aimed to describe correlations among cord blood MBL, H- and L-ficolin concentrations and with several demographic parameters of the infants at birth. Methods: Serum MBL, H- and L-ficolin concentrations were determined by ELISA in 154 mixed arteriovenous cord blood samples from IUGR (n = 50) and AGA (n = 104) singleton full-term infants. Results: Cord blood MBL concentrations were significantly lower in IUGR cases than AGA controls (p = 0.029). No differences in cord blood H- and L-ficolin concentrations were observed between groups. In the IUGR group, cord blood MBL concentrations negatively correlated with respective L-ficolin ones (r = −0.442, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The relatively decreased MBL expression in IUGR fetuses at term could possibly contribute to IUGR-associated neonatal immunodeficiency, predisposing to increased susceptibility to infections. The negative correlation between MBL and L-ficolin concentrations in the IUGR group might suggest an underlying immune variation and needs to be further investigated.