Clinical significance
Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a plasma protein that activates the complement system on binding to invading pathogens, and also has more subtle immunomodulatory effects. Genetically determined MBL deficiency has been shown to be associated with increased susceptibility to infections in conditions such as:

• Immunosuppression
  
  • During cancer chemotherapy
  • After organ transplantation
• Immature adaptive immune system
  
  • In early childhood

MBL deficiency is also associated with increased disease severity in:

• Autoimmune diseases
  
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

Activation of the complement system
MBL activates complement through its own pathway, the lectin or MBL pathway, one of the three known complement-activating pathways, the other two being the classical and the alternative pathways.

In about 12% of the average population, the circulating level of functional MBL is too low to activate the complement system. Such MBL-deficient individuals may be more susceptible to infections, especially if the adaptive immune system is immature or suppressed, e.g. by cytotoxic drugs.

Kit features

• Highly reproducible and easy to use
  
  • Ready-to-use calibrators and working solutions
  • Pre-coated ELISA strips
  • All incubations performed at room temperature
  • Measures MBL in both serum and plasma
• Detection range (At the recommended sample dilutions) 2 – 4000 ng/mL Easy storage
• All components are stored at 4°C
• CE IVD-marked
• Only standard ELISA equipment is required