How are low mannin-binding lectin (MBL) significant in Crohn's?

"Low Mannan-binding lectin serum levels are associated with complicated Crohn's disease and reactivity to oligomannan (ASCA)." in American Journal of Gastroenterology (2009)
"CONCLUSIONS: Low or deficient MBL serum levels are significantly associated with complicated (stricturing and penetrating) CD phenotypes but are negatively associated with the non-stricturing, non-penetrating group. Furthermore, CD patients with low or deficient MBL are significantly more often ASCA positive, possibly reflecting delayed clearance of oligomannan-containing microorganisms by the innate immune system in the absence of MBL."

"Partial overlap of anti-mycobacterial, and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannan antibodies in Crohn’s disease" In World J Gastroenterology (2008)

"Abstract CONCLUSION: Similar to ASCA, seroreactivity against mycobacteria may define CD patients with complicated disease and a predisposition for immune responses against ubiquitous antigens. While in some patients anti-mycobacterial antibodies strongly cross-react with yeast mannan; these cross-reactive antibodies only represent a minor fraction of total ASCA. Thus, mycobacterial infection unlikely plays a role in ASCA induction."

"Full article:  In conclusion, we were able to demonstrate that ASCA-positive patients had significantly more immune reactivities to mycobacterial antigens. In a subgroup of ASCA-positive CD patients, anti-mycobacterial immunoglobulins at least partially represent cross-reactive ASCA, while in others there seem to be separate ASCA and anti-mycobacterial antibodies that do not cross-react. Furthermore, purified anti-M smegmatis IgG showed low or no binding to yeast mannan. Therefore, we postulate that our results reflect more the predisposition of CD patients to develop increased immune reactivities to various ubiquitous antigens in general and mannosylated antigens in particular, rather than a role of mycobacteria in the induction of ASCA."

"Mannan-binding lectin deficiency results in unusual antibody production and excessive experimental colitis in response to mannose-expressing mild gut pathogens"
"Conclusions: These results suggest that systemic MBL helps to prevent excessive inflammation upon access of normally mild pathogens across the damaged intestinal epithelium. Lack of this innate defence promotes antibody responses with cross-reactive potential against common mannan epitopes. These interpretations are compatible with the increased prevalence of ASCA and complicated disease phenotypes in MBL-deficient patients with CD."

"Deficiency for mannan-binding lectin is associated with antibodies to Saccharomyces cerevisiae in patients with Crohn’s disease and their relatives" in Gut (2007)
"Therefore, our paper provides further evidence that genetically altered MBL levels in patients with Crohn’s disease and their relatives could be, at least partly, responsible for the enhanced  immune reactivity to yeast antigens seen in a subgroup of these patients and their relatives.  However, other factors also contribute to the development of this unusual immune reaction, as there are MBL-deficient healthy people who are ASCA negative."

c.f. "Mannan binding lectin (MBL) gene polymorphisms are not associated with anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA) in patients with Crohn’s disease" in Gut (2006)
"We found no association between the presence of ASCA and polymorphisms/mutations in the MBL gene in a large cohort of CD patients and conclude that the occurrence of ASCA is not related to MBL polymorphisms/mutations. This is in contrast with a previous report in which such an association was suggested. Therefore, we consider the relationship between ASCA and MBL highly controversial."

Do lectins worsen Crohn's symptoms?

Lectin from Wikipedia

"Digestion and immune distress ... Foods with high concentrations of lectins, such as beans, cereal grains, seeds, and nuts, may be harmful if consumed in excess in uncooked or improperly cooked form. Adverse effects may include nutritional deficiencies, and immune (allergic) reactions. Possibly, most effects of lectins are due to gastrointestinal distress through interaction of the lectins with the gut epithelial cells. A recent in vitro study has suggested that the mechanism of lectin damage may occur by interfering with the repair of already-damaged epithelial cells."

Lectin Labs Ltd. "Lectins, which are present in almost every organism, are proteins which specifically bind or crosslink carbohydrates on cell surfaces. Through painstaking research, Lectin Labs has identified the precise lectins that have the ability to bind with these carbohydrate receptors that occur on many types of pathogens (bacteria and viral agents that cause disease). Lectin Labs has chosen to develop only lectins from plants, many of which are commonly found in our diet. By using the 'right' lectin, the Company has developed lectin formulations, which are able to interfere with or destroy the development of the disease-causing process, even in cases where antibiotics are ineffective."

The Lowdown on Lectins at Mark's Daily Apple, Primal Living in the Modern World

"Roles of galectins in chronic inflammatory microenvironments" in Future Rheumetology (2006) "Lectins are multifunctional carbohydrate-binding proteins that can recognize various carbohydrates on cell surfaces and extracellular matrix, and are involved in several biological processes. Galectins, a family of animal lectins with affinity for β-galactoside-containing oligosaccharides, are expressed by several cells of the immune system and tissue-resident stromal cells. Increasingly, experimental evidence indicates that galectins might play critical regulatory roles in cancer, fibrosis and chronic inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis. In this review, we summarize recent developments in our understanding of the galectins’ roles within particular cells, and in the broader context of the inflammatory or tumor microenvironments. This body of knowledge, documenting the coming-of-age of galectins as potential immunosuppressive agents or targets for anti-inflammatory drugs, represents a sound basis to further explore their immunoregulatory properties in the development of novel therapies for autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammation."

Are there any foods that affect food absorption?

Phytic acid in Wikipedia
"Phytic acid (known as inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6), or phytate when in salt form) is the principal storage form of phosphorus in many plant tissues, especially bran and seeds. Phytate is not digestible to humans or nonruminant animals, however, so it is not a source of either inositol or phosphate if eaten directly. Morever, it chelates and thus makes unabsorbable certain important minor minerals such as zinc and iron, and to a lesser extent, also macro minerals such as calcium and magnesium."

Lectins on Wikipedia
"Foods with high concentrations of lectins, such as beans, cereal grains, seeds, and nuts, may be harmful if consumed in excess in uncooked or improperly cooked form. Adverse effects may include nutritional deficiencies, and immune(allergic) reactions. Possibly, most effects of lectins are due to gastrointestinal distress through interaction of the lectins with the gut epithelial cells. A recent in vitro study has suggested that the mechanism of lectin damage may occur by interfering with the repair of already-damaged epithelial cells."