Ficolin-3 is an initiator of the lectin complement pathway. The complement system is a mediator of the pathophysiology of graft rejection in kidney transplantation, but the role of ficolin-3 in this process is unknown. Using a prospective study design, 527 kidney transplanted patients were included. 97 blood donors served as controls. Ficolin-3, C4 and C3 were measured in pre-transplant as well as in control serum samples. In controls, deposition of ficolin-3, C4, C3 and the terminal complement complex (TCC) was measured in an assay based on acetylated albumin as matrix. The ficolin-3 levels correlated with the serum levels of C4 and C3. The serum levels of ficolin-3 correlated with the deposition of ficolin-3, C4, C3 and TCC. Survival analyses showed that high pre-transplant serum levels of ficolin-3 were associated with decreased graft survival. These results suggest an important role of ficolin-3 in the pathophysiology of kidney graft rejection.
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