The relationship between COVID-19 and the complement system: mannose-binding lectin

D.E. Afşin, A. Aksakal, A.F. Kılıç, N.K. Baygutalp, B. Kerget

Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Health Sciences University, Erzurum Regional Education and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey

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• Biochemistry
• Infectious Diseases

OBJECTIVE: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is one of the important parts of the complement system. In our study, we aimed to determine serum MBL levels and their relationship with intensive care hospitalization.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety COVID-19-positive patients from outpatient clinics and clinics were included in this study. The patients were evaluated in three groups as mild, moderate, and severe groups. Each group consisted of 30 patients. A venous blood sample was taken once from each patient. Serum MBL, C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), fibrinogen, D-dimer, and ferritin levels were measured.

RESULTS: The mean serum MBL levels of all patients were 695.46±324.42 ng/mL. One-way ANOVA test resulted in significant differences in serum CRP, LDH, fibrinogen, D-dimer, ferritin, and MBL levels between groups (p<0.05 for all comparisons). Post-hoc Tukey analysis showed significant differences in serum MBL levels between mild and severe groups and moderate and severe groups.

CONCLUSIONS: MBL may be used as a prognostic biomarker in COVID-19 patients. Further studies are needed to determine MBL in treatment strategies.

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