Association between Urinary Zinc and Neopterin Excretion: A Manifestation of the Acute Phase Response in the Kidney?

Pteridines ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 174-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bohuslm Melichar

Summary An elevation in urinary neopterin excretion is established to be a sensitive index of immune system activation in various disorders. In many of these conditions, a simultaneous increase in urine zinc output is observed, but this phenomenon remains largely unexplained. In previous studies in patients with different diseases, a significant correlation between urine zinc and neopterin was demonstrated. This suggests that the immune system may be involved in inducing an augmentation in urine zinc loss. As both zinc and neopterin are now known to influence oxidative processes, and lipid peroxidation has been demonstrated 10 play an important role in renal pathology, a protective role of the increase in urine zinc and neopterin, which might represent a manifestation of the acute phase reaction in the kidney, is discussed.

1998 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 863-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. DAVIS ◽  
J. A. WEAVER ◽  
M. L. KOHUT ◽  
L. H. COLBERT ◽  
A. GHAFFAR ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Wei Xin ◽  
Zhi-Xin Chai ◽  
Cheng-Fu Zhang ◽  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
Yong Zhu ◽  
...  

Abstract The yak, Bos grunniens, is the only large mammal in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and has been bred to provide meat, milk, and transportation. Previous studies indicate that the immune system contributes to the yak’s adaptation to high-altitude environments. In order to further investigate changes in immune function during yak development, we compared the transcriptome profiles of gluteus and lung tissues among yaks at 6, 30, 60, and 90 months of age. Analyses of significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in lung tissues revealed that immune function was more activated at 6-months and less activated at 90-months than in the 30 and 60-month-old animals. DEG exploration in gluteal tissues revealed that immune functions were more highly activated at both 6 and 90-months, compared with 30 and 60-months. Immune system activation in the muscle and lung tissues of 30-month-old yaks may increase their resistance to infections, while decreased may be due to aging. Furthermore, the higher immune activation status in the gluteal tissues in 90-month-old yaks could be due to muscle injury and subsequent regeneration, which is supported by the fact that 5 unigenes related with muscle injury and 3 related to muscle regeneration displayed greater expression levels at 90-months than at 30 and 60-months. Overall, the present study highlights the important role of the immune system in yak development, which will facilitate future investigations.


2014 ◽  
Vol 306 (2) ◽  
pp. H184-H196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron G. McCarthy ◽  
Styliani Goulopoulou ◽  
Camilla F. Wenceslau ◽  
Kathryn Spitler ◽  
Takayuki Matsumoto ◽  
...  

Low-grade systemic inflammation is a common manifestation of hypertension; however, the exact mechanisms that initiate this pathophysiological response, thereby contributing to further increases in blood pressure, are not well understood. Aberrant vascular inflammation and reactivity via activation of the innate immune system may be the first step in the pathogenesis of hypertension. One of the functions of the innate immune system is to recognize and respond to danger. Danger signals can arise from not only pathogenic stimuli but also endogenous molecules released following cell injury and/or death [damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs)]. In the short-term, activation of the innate immune system is beneficial in the vasculature by providing cytoprotective mechanisms and facilitating tissue repair following injury or infection. However, sustained or excessive immune system activation, such as in autoimmune diseases, may be deleterious and can lead to maladaptive, irreversible changes to vascular structure and function. An initial source of DAMPs that enter the circulation to activate the innate immune system could arise from modest elevations in peripheral vascular resistance. These stimuli could subsequently lead to ischemic- or pressure-induced events aggravating further cell injury and/or death, providing more DAMPs for innate immune system activation. This review will address and critically evaluate the current literature on the role of the innate immune system in hypertension pathogenesis. The role of Toll-like receptor activation on somatic cells of the vasculature in response to the release of DAMPs and the consequences of this activation on inflammation, vasoreactivity, and vascular remodeling will be specifically discussed.


Pteridines ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 94-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guna Laganovska ◽  
Agris Martinsons ◽  
Bronislavs Pitrans ◽  
Bernhard Widner ◽  
Dietmar Fuchs

Summary In 40 cataract patients and in 51 patients without pseudoexfoliation (PES) we determined serum concentrations of neopterin, kynurenine, and selenium and concentrations of neopterin in aqueous humour from the anterior chamber of the eye. In addition, selenium content in lenses was determined. Significantly increased kynurenine and neopterin concentrations in serum and neopterin concentrations in aqueous humour were observed in mature cataract patients with PES compared to those without. These patients also presented with the lowest content of selenium in serum and lens, compared with cataract patients without PES. Increased concentrations of neopterin in serum and aqueous humour of the anterior chamber of eyes suggest an increased degree of oxidative stress in patients with PES. Thus, the results support the role of oxidative stress in the development of PES in cataract patients. The decreased content of selenium may elicit immune system activation via an increased oxidative stress as it is indicated by the increased formation of kynurenine and neopterin.


2015 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 414-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Kampman-van de Hoek ◽  
Panagiotis Sakkas ◽  
Walter J. J. Gerrits ◽  
Joost J. G. C. van den Borne ◽  
Carola M. C. van der Peet-Schwering ◽  
...  

It is hypothesised that during immune system activation, there is a competition for amino acids (AA) between body protein deposition and immune system functioning. The aim of the present study was to quantify the effect of immune system activation on N retention and AA metabolism in growing pigs, depending on dietary protein supply. A total of sixteen barrows received an adequate (Ad) or restricted (Res) amount of dietary protein, and were challenged at day 0 with intravenous complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). At days − 5, 3 and 8, an irreversible loss rate (ILR) of eight AA was determined. CFA successfully activated the immune system, as indicated by a 2- to 4-fold increase in serum concentrations of acute-phase proteins (APP). Pre-challenge C-reactive protein concentrations were lower (P< 0·05) and pre- and post-challenge albumin tended to be lower in Res-pigs. These findings indicate that a restricted protein supply can limit the acute-phase response. CFA increased urinary N losses (P= 0·04) and tended to reduce N retention in Ad-pigs, but not in Res-pigs (P= 0·07). The ILR for Val was lower (P= 0·05) at day 8 than at day 3 in the post-challenge period. The ILR of most AA, except for Trp, were strongly affected by dietary protein supply and positively correlated with N retention. The correlations between the ILR and APP indices were absent or negative, indicating that changes in AA utilisation for APP synthesis were either not substantial or more likely outweighed by a decrease in muscle protein synthesis during immune system activation in growing pigs.


1995 ◽  
Vol 27 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. S67
Author(s):  
J. M. Davis ◽  
J. A. Weaver ◽  
M. L. Kohut ◽  
A. Ghaffar ◽  
E. P. Mayer

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Guo ◽  
Shuxuan Ma

As an initiator of respiratory distress, transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is regarded as one of the rare complications associated with transfusion medicine. However, to date, the pathogenesis of TRALI is still unclear, and specific therapies are unavailable. Understanding the mechanisms of TRALI may promote the design of preventive and therapeutic strategies. The immune system plays vital roles in reproduction, development and homeostasis. Sterile tissue damage, such as physical trauma, ischemia, or reperfusion injury, induces an inflammatory reaction that results in wound healing and regenerative mechanisms. In other words, in addition to protecting against pathogens, the immune response may be strongly associated with TRALI prevention and treatment through a variety of immunomodulatory strategies to inhibit excessive immune system activation. Immunotherapy based on immune cells or immunological targets may eradicate complications. For example, IL-10 therapy is a promising therapeutic strategy to explore further. This review will focus on ultramodern advances in our understanding of the potential role of the immune system in TRALI prevention and treatment.


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