Mannose-binding lectin: From bench to personalized medicine / 医学研究生学报

ABSTRACT

Mannose-binding lectin(MBL) is a key component of the innate immune system that plays a pluripotent role in natural defense.MBL genetic variants are associated with increased susceptibility to and the severity and prognosis of various diseases.The association between low MBL-producing allelic variants and disease risk and/or severity is particularly strong in infectious and autoimmune diseases.Enhanced risk for disease by low MBL producers is particularly the case for children and immunocompromised patients,especially when primary and secondary immune deficiencies coexist.Therefore the use of MBL testing and replacement therapy has reached the threshold of personalized medicine.The author presents a review of the role of MBL in health and diseases,the advances in MBL testing methodology and MBL related therapies.