Association between mannose binding lectin gene polymorphisms and clinical severity of COVID-19 in children

BACKGROUND: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a member of innate immunity and acts with MASP (MBL-associated serine protease) to activate the lectin pathway of the complement system. MBL gene polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to infectious diseases. This study investigated whether MBL2 genotype, serum MBL levels, and serum MASP-2 levels affect the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19 by positive real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were included in the study. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter and exon 1 in the MBL2 gene (rs11003125, rs7096206, rs1800450, rs1800451, rs5030737) were identified by a PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphisms analysis. Serum MBL and MASP-2 levels were measured by ELISA. COVID-19 patients were divided into asymptomatic and symptomatic. Variables were compared between these two groups. A total of 100 children were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 130 ± 67.2 months. Of the patients, 68 (68%) were symptomatic, and 32 (32%) were asymptomatic. The polymorphisms in the − 221nt and − 550nt promoter regions did not differ between groups (p > 0.05). All codon 52 and codon 57 genotypes were determined as wild-type AA. AB genotypes were found 45.6% in symptomatic patients while 23.5% in asymptomatics. Moreover, BB genotype was detected 9.4% in symptomatic and 6.3% in asymptomatic patients (p < 0.001). B allele was more frequent in symptomatic patients (46.3%) compared to asymptomatic patients (10.9%). (p < 0.001). Serum MBL and MASP-2 levels did not differ statistically between the groups (p = 0.295, p = 0.073). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that codon 54 polymorphism in the MBL2 gene exon-1 region can be associated with the symptomatic course of COVID-19.