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. 2023 Apr 17:14:1151058.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1151058. eCollection 2023.

Polymorphisms in the MBL2 gene are associated with the plasma levels of MBL and the cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in severe COVID-19

Maria Alice Freitas Queiroz  1   2 , Angélica Menezes Santiago  1   3 , Wandrey Roberto Dos Santos Brito  1   2 , Keise Adrielle Santos Pereira  1   2 , William Botelho de Brito  1   3 , Maria Karoliny da Silva Torres  1   2 , Jeferson da Costa Lopes  1   2 , Erika Ferreira Dos Santos  2   4 , Flávia Póvoa da Costa  2   4 , Kevin Matheus Lima de Sarges  2   4 , Marcos Henrique Damasceno Cantanhede  2   4 , Mioni Thieli Figueiredo Magalhães de Brito  4 , Andréa Luciana Soares da Silva  4 , Mauro de Meira Leite  4 , Maria de Nazaré do Socorro de Almeida Viana  2   4 , Fabíola Brasil Barbosa Rodrigues  2   4 , Rosilene da Silva  2   4 , Giselle Maria Rachid Viana  5 , Tânia do Socorro Souza Chaves  5   6 , Adriana de Oliveira Lameira Veríssimo  7 , Mayara da Silva Carvalho  7 , Daniele Freitas Henriques  8 , Carla Pinheiro Dos Santos  8 , Juliana Abreu Lima Nunes  9 , Iran Barros Costa  3   9 , Ednelza da Silva Graça Amoras  1 , Sandra Souza Lima  1 , Izaura Maria Vieira Cayres-Vallinoto  1   2 , Igor Brasil-Costa  3   9 , Juarez Antônio Simões Quaresma  10 , Luiz Fábio Magno Falcão  10 , Eduardo José Melo Dos Santos  2   4 , Antonio Carlos Rosário Vallinoto  1   2
Affiliations

Polymorphisms in the MBL2 gene are associated with the plasma levels of MBL and the cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in severe COVID-19

Maria Alice Freitas Queiroz et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

Introduction: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) promotes opsonization, favoring phagocytosis and activation of the complement system in response to different microorganisms, and may influence the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines. This study investigated the association of MBL2 gene polymorphisms with the plasma levels of MBL and inflammatory cytokines in COVID-19.

Methods: Blood samples from 385 individuals (208 with acute COVID-19 and 117 post-COVID-19) were subjected to real-time PCR genotyping. Plasma measurements of MBL and cytokines were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry, respectively.

Results: The frequencies of the polymorphic MBL2 genotype (OO) and allele (O) were higher in patients with severe COVID-19 (p< 0.05). The polymorphic genotypes (AO and OO) were associated with lower MBL levels (p< 0.05). IL-6 and TNF-α were higher in patients with low MBL and severe COVID-19 (p< 0.05). No association of polymorphisms, MBL levels, or cytokine levels with long COVID was observed.

Discussion: The results suggest that, besides MBL2 polymorphisms promoting a reduction in MBL levels and therefore in its function, they may also contribute to the development of a more intense inflammatory process responsible for the severity of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; MBL; cytokines; long COVID; polymorphisms.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Evaluation of MBL levels among (A) patients with severe and non-severe acute COVID-19; (B) individuals with long COVID and individuals without the syndrome in the post-COVID period; carriers of the different MBL2 genotypes with (C) severe and non-severe (D) acute COVID; and carriers of the different MBL genotypes (E) with and (F) without long COVID.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Evaluation of IL-6 levels among (A) patients with severe and non-severe acute COVID-19 and among carriers of the different MBL2 genotypes with (B) severe and (C) non-severe forms of the disease. TNF-α levels among (D) patients with severe and non-severe acute COVID-19 and among carriers of the different MBL2 genotypes with (E) severe and (F) non-severe forms of the disease.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Correlogram of the plasma levels of MBL, IL-6, and TNF-α in patients with severe and non-severe acute COVID-19.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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