Worthley DL, Bardy PG, Gordon DL, Mullighan CG. Mannose-binding lectin and maladies of the bowel and liver. World J Gastroenterol 2006; 12(40): 6420-6428 [PMID: 17072973 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i40.6420]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Dr. Daniel Worthley, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Flinders Medical Centre, Room 3D230, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, Australia. dan@worthley.name
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 28, 2006; 12(40): 6420-6428 Published online Oct 28, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i40.6420
Mannose-binding lectin and maladies of the bowel and liver
Daniel L Worthley, Peter G Bardy, David L Gordon, Charles G Mullighan
Daniel L Worthley, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia, Australia
Peter G Bardy, Division of Haematology, Royal Adelaide Hospital and Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, South Australia, Australia, Department of Haematology-Oncology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, South Australia, Australia
David L Gordon, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia, Australia
Charles G Mullighan, Division of Haematology, Royal Adelaide Hospital and Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, South Australia, Australia; Pathology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Correspondence to: Dr. Daniel Worthley, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Flinders Medical Centre, Room 3D230, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, Australia. dan@worthley.name
Telephone: +61-8-82044964
Received: July 27, 2006 Revised: August 12, 2006 Accepted: August 31, 2006 Published online: October 28, 2006
Abstract
Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a pattern-recognition molecule that binds to characteristic carbohydrate motifs present on the surface of many different pathogens. MBL binding stimulates the immune system via the lectin pathway of complement activation. In certain clinical situations, often characterized by pre-existing immune compromise, MBL deficiency increases the risk of infectious and other disease-specific complications. Many of the key pathogenic processes inherent to common gastroenterological diseases, such as infection, immunological damage, and carcinogenesis, have been linked to MBL. This editorial reviews the biology of MBL, outlines key disease associations to document the breadth of influence of MBL, and finally, highlights the relevance of MBL to both gastroenterological health and disease.
