scholarly journals Normal FGF-21-Serum Levels in Patients with Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II) Deficiency

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Motlagh Scholle ◽  
Diana Lehmann ◽  
Pushpa Joshi ◽  
Stephan Zierz

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) is known to be a biomarker for mitochondrial disorders. An upregulation of FGF-21 in serum and muscle of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT I) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II) knock-out mice has been reported. In human CPT II deficiency, enzyme activity and protein content are normal, but the enzyme is abnormally regulated by malonyl-CoA and is abnormally thermolabile. Citrate synthase (CS) activity is increased in patients with CPT II deficiency. This may indicate a compensatory response to an impaired function of CPT II. In this study, FGF-21 serum levels in patients with CPT II deficiency during attack free intervals and in healthy controls were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data showed no significant difference between FGF-21 concentration in the serum of patients with CPT II deficiency and that in the healthy controls. The results of the present work support the hypothesis that in muscle CPT II deficiency, in contrast to the mouse knockout model, mitochondrial fatty acid utilization is not persistently reduced. Thus, FGF-21 does not seem to be a useful biomarker in the diagnosis of CPT II deficiency.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuto Tamura ◽  
Tamihiro Kawakami ◽  
Yupeng Dong ◽  
Miku Yoshinari ◽  
Yuka Nishibata ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective. It was previously demonstrated that cutaneous vasculitis, including IgA vasculitis and cutaneous arteritis (CA), is associated with the presence of IgM antibodies (Abs) against the phosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex (PS/PT). Recently, novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits for the detection of IgG and IgM anti-PS/PT (aPS/PT) Abs have become commercially available.Methods. The prevalence of serum IgG and IgM aPS/PT Abs in both cutaneous and systemic vasculitis was determined using these kits. In addition, to examine whether aPS/PT Abs were involved in the pathogenesis of cutaneous vasculitis, inbred wild-type rats were intravenously administered with a rat IgM class aPS/PT monoclonal Ab established previously or with rat immunoglobulins as controls. To express PS on the surface of vascular endothelium, these rats were given a subcutaneous injection of cell-free histones (250 µg/ml, 300 µl/site) 2 hours in advance. Results. Serum IgM aPS/PT Ab levels were elevated in patients with systemic vasculitis with skin involvement and CA compared to those in patients with systemic vasculitis without skin involvement and healthy controls. There was no significant difference in the serum levels of IgG aPS/PT Abs between the patients and healthy controls. Correspondingly, inbred wild-type rats intravenously administered with the aPS/PT monoclonal IgM Ab after appropriate priming—subcutaneous histone injection—developed cutaneous vasculitis. Some rats given rat IgM instead of the aPS/PT monoclonal Ab also developed cutaneous vasculitis, whereas vasculitis did not occur in rats given IgG or only priming by histones. Conclusion. IgM aPS/PT Abs could be involved in the pathogenesis of cutaneous vasculitis.


Author(s):  
Esfandiar Azizi ◽  
Ahmad Zavaran Hosseini ◽  
Sara Soudi ◽  
Ahmad Ali Noorbala

A growing body of evidence suggests the existence of abnormalities in the immune system of schizophrenic patients. The current study examined serum levels of interleukin (IL) -1β, IL-6, IL-2,interferon(IFN) -γ, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in schizophrenic patients before and after treatment with risperidone and correlated levels of these cytokines with symptomatology. The study group consisted of 24 schizophrenic patients as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria and 24 healthy controls. Serum cytokine levels were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Schizophrenic symptomatology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) questionnaire. The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly higher in participants before treatment compared with the healthy controls and after treatment (p<0.001). IFN-γ and IL-2 levels were significantly lower in participants after treatment compared with before treatment and the healthy controls (p<0.001). Except for IL-6 (p<0.05), there was no significant difference in the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β between the patients receiving treatment and the healthy subjects. Moreover, there was no significant difference in levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 between patients before treatment and the healthy subjects. There were no significant correlations between the concentration of cytokines studied and the PANSS. Positive intercorrelations between the production of IFN-γ and IL-2 were detected for sums of all groups(r=0.33, p=0.005). Clinical improvement of treated patients was associated with a reduction in the studied cytokines. It seems that changes in the cytokines level may play a significant role in the psychopathology of these patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haruki Matsumoto ◽  
Yuya Fujita ◽  
Naoki Matsuoka ◽  
Jumpei Temmoku ◽  
Makiko Yashiro-Furuya ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is characterized by increased serum IgG4 concentration and infiltration of IgG4+ plasma cells in the affected organs. The present study aimed to characterize the serum levels of coinhibitory checkpoint molecule, T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-containing-molecule-3 (TIM-3), and its ligand, galectin-9 (Gal-9), among IgG4-related disease in patients with IgG4-RD patients with various organ involvements. Methods Serum samples were collected from untreated 59 patients with IgG4-RD, 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and 37 healthy controls (HCs). HCs lacked chronic medical diseases or conditions and did not take prescription medications or over-the-counter medications within 7 days. Patients with IgG4-RD (n = 57) were subdivided into those with visceral involvement (n = 38) and those without visceral involvement (n = 21). Serum levels of Gal-9 and soluble TIM-3 (sTIM-3) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were compared with the clinical phenotypes of IgG4-RD. Results In untreated patients with IgG4-RD, serum levels of Gal-9 and sTIM-3 were significantly higher than in RA patients as well as in healthy controls. There were significant correlations between the serum levels of Gal-9 or sTIM-3 and serum levels of IgG, BAFF, or sIL-2R. However, there was no significant correlation between the serum levels of Gal-9 or sTIM-3 and serum IgG4 concentrations. Serum levels of sTIM-3 were significantly higher in a subset of patients with visceral involvements than in those without visceral involvements. However, there was no significant difference in the serum levels of Gal-9 between IgG4-RD patients with and without visceral involvements, although both Gal-9 and sTIM-3 were elevated in untreated IgG4-RD patients, and the levels of these checkpoint molecules remained unchanged after steroid therapy. Conclusion Serum levels of Gal-9 and sTIM-3 were significantly elevated in untreated patients with IgG4-RD. Furthermore, serum levels of sTIM-3 were significantly higher in IgG4-RD patients with visceral involvements. These checkpoint molecules could be a potentially useful biomarker for IgG4-RD and for assessing the clinical phenotypes of IgG4-RD.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haruki Matsumoto ◽  
Yuya Fujita ◽  
Naoki Matsuoka ◽  
Jumpei Temmoku ◽  
Makiko Furuya-Yashiro ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is characterized by increased serum IgG4 concentration and infiltration of IgG4+ plasma cells in the affected organs. The present study aimed to characterize the serum levels of coinhibitory checkpoint molecule, T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-containing-molecule-3 (TIM-3), and its ligand, galectin-9 (Gal-9), among IgG4-related disease in patients with IgG4-RD patients with various organ involvements. Methods Serum samples were collected from untreated 59 patients with IgG4-RD, 116 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and 37 healthy controls. Patients with IgG4-RD (n = 57) were subdivided into those with visceral involvement (n = 38) and those without visceral involvement (n = 21). Serum levels of Gal-9 and soluble TIM-3 (sTIM-3) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results were compared with the clinical phenotypes of IgG4-RD. Results In untreated patients with IgG4-RD, serum levels of Gal-9 and sTIM-3 were significantly higher than in RA patients as well as in healthy controls. There were significant correlations between serum levels of Gal-9 or sTIM-3 and serum levels of IgG, BAFF, or sIL-2R. However, there was no significant correlation between the serum levels of Gal-9 or sTIM-3 and serum IgG4 concentrations. Serum levels of sTIM-3 were significantly higher in a subset of patients with visceral involvements than in those without visceral involvements. However, there was no significant difference in the serum levels of Gal-9 between IgG4-RD patients with and without visceral involvements. Although both, Gal-9 and sTIM-3 were elevated in untreated IgG4-RD patients, and the levels of these checkpoint molecules remained unchanged after steroid therapy. Conclusion Serum levels of Ga-9 and sTIM-3 were significantly elevated in untreated patients with IgG-RD. Furthermore, serum levels of sTIM-3 were significantly higher in IgG4-RD patients with visceral involvements. These checkpoint molecules could be a potentially useful biomarker for IgG4-RD and for assessing the clinical phenotypes of IgG4-RD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruyahan Huo ◽  
Heng Liu ◽  
Jing Chen ◽  
Hong Sheng ◽  
Li Miao

Abstract Background This study aims to investigate clinical significance of HMGB1 in neonatal patients with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Methods This observational study enrolled a total of 106 stage II-III NEC neonatal patients, who were admitted in our hospital from March 2014 to March 2019. In addition, 99 suspected NEC patients and 200 healthy controls were included. The serum levels of HMGB1, I-FABP, and inflammatory factors CRP, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Then, the demographic data and clinical characteristics of all patients were collected. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine the correlation between HMGB1 and the clinical characteristics. Results No significant difference was found in the basic characteristics of NEC patients and healthy controls, except for birth weight and gestational age. The expression levels of HMGB1, I-FABP, and inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly higher in NEC patients, when compared to healthy controls. The serum levels of HMGB1, I-FABP, IL-1β and IL-6 markedly increased in stage II-III NEC patients, when compared to stage I NEC patients. The Pearson’s analysis revealed a positive correlation between HMGB1 and I-FABP, HMGB1 and IL-1β, and HMGB1 and IL-6. The ROC curve revealed that both HMGB1 and I-FABP can potentially be used as diagnostic factors for NEC. The logistic multivariate regression revealed that I-FABP, IL-1β and IL-6 are independent risk factors for mortality in neonatal NEC patients. Conclusions Serum HMGB1 levels are upregulated in neonatal NEC patients, and these are correlated with the patient’s prognosis.


QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abeer I Abd Elmagid ◽  
Hala Abdel Al ◽  
Wessam El Sayed Saad ◽  
Seham Kamal Mohamed

Abstract Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and one of the most important causes of death among them.Angiogenesis is an important step for primary tumor growth, invasiveness, and metastases. Angiopoietins are well-recognized endothelial growth factors that are involved in angiogenesis associated with tumors. Aim To explore the diagnostic significance of serum angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in breast cancer and to evaluate its prognostic efficacy through studying the degree of its association with the TNM staging of the disease. Patients and Methods This study was conducted on (35) Egyptian female patients who were diagnosed as breast cancer according to histopathological examination of breast biopsy (Group 1, Breast Cancer Patients) and (25) female patients with benign breast diseases (Group II, Pathological Control Patients), in addition to (20) age - matched apparently healthy, free mammogram, females serving as healthy controls (Group III, Healthy Controls). For all participants, measurement of serum Ang-2 was done using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results A highly significant increased levels of Ang-2 was observed in breast cancer patients when compared to healthy control group (Z = 4.95, p &lt; 0.01). However, no significant difference was observed in Ang-2 levels between breast cancer patients group and pathological control group (Z = 3.37, p &gt; 0.05). No significant difference was detected in Ang-2 levels in relation to TNM stage and histological grade. No significant correlation was found between Ang-2 levels and serum levels of CA15-3, hormone receptors, HER2/new receptor status (p &gt; 0.05, respectively). Conclusion This study revealed that Ang-2 serum levels were significantly increased in patient with breast cancer compared with healthy controls, indicating that high Ang-2 level is a promising non invasive biomarker for breast cancer diagnosis. However, no significant difference of Ang-2 levels was detected in relation of breast TNM staging in the population studied.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 650
Author(s):  
Varinder Saini ◽  
Chikkahonnaiah Prashanth ◽  
Jasbinder Kaur ◽  
Ashok Kumar Janmeja ◽  
Seema Gupta ◽  
...  

Background: Lung cancer screening is a challenge. Sputum cytology, chest X-ray, low dose computed tomography and other screening methods have not proved to be very effective. Serum biomarkers are a new hope in screening of lung cancer. The present study was planned to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of serum levels of amyloid A (SAA), soluble E- selectin (sE-selectin) and soluble E-cadherin (sE-cadherin) as lung cancer biomarkers.Methods: An observational and cross-sectional study comprised of three groups with 20 subjects each of proven lung cancer cases, patients with non-malignant respiratory diseases and healthy controls. Levels of SAA, sE-selectin and sE-cadherin were measured by solid phase sandwich ELISA. Individual and collective sensitivity and specificity of these biomarkers was analysed and cut off values calculated by receiver operating curves.Results: A statistically significant difference was found in the median levels (ng/ml) of SAA in patients of lung cancer, other non-malignant respiratory diseases, and healthy controls, the levels (Mean±SD) being 24980.50±6564.14,9961.10±2000.24 and 580.95±334.94 respectively in the three groups. A sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 55% was found when SAA levels of 1068 ng/ml were taken as cut off for screening of lung cancer. However, no significant difference was found in the serum levels of sE selectin and sE cadherin between the three groups. Moreover, significant association of biomarkers could also not be established with lung cancer when they were used in combination.Conclusions: In this preliminary report from India, SAA has been found to be a promising biomarker in screening for lung cancer.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Mohammad-Rezaei ◽  
Reza Ahmadi ◽  
Ali Rafiei ◽  
Arsalan Khaledifar ◽  
Shohila Fatahi ◽  
...  

Abstract Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by atherosclerosis and arteries become clogged due to plaque formation, fat accumulation, and various sorts of immune cells. IL-32 is a new proinflammatory cytokine, which enhances inflammation through inducing different inflammatory cytokines. The purpose of current research was to assess IL-32 serum levels in coronary artery disease subjects and its relationship with serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α. Forty-two subjects diagnosed with CAD and thirty-nine control subjects were enrolled in the research. Serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-32 were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IL-32, TNF-α, and IL-6 serum levels were significantly higher by 2.7, 3.48, and 3.2-fold in the CAD subjects than in control subjects, respectively. Moreover, no significant difference was found in TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-32 serum levels with the clogged arteries number in the CAD group. TNF-α and IL-32 serum levels in the CAD subjects with cardiac arterial stenosis in one major vessel were significantly increased than CAD subjects with cardiac arterial stenosis in more than one major vessels. ROC curve analysis revealed that serum levels of IL-32, TNF-α, and IL-6 showed good abilities in predicting CAD. Also, Multiple logistic regression analyses suggested that TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-32, serum levels of LDL and ox-LDL were independently related to the presence of CAD, while HDL serum levels were not. TNF-α, IL-32, and IL-6 showed an increase in CAD group and serum levels of these cytokines showed good abilities in predicting CAD. Our data suggested the involvement of TNF-α and IL-32 in the early stage of CAD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Li ◽  
Xiaoduo Fan ◽  
Xiuxia Yuan ◽  
Lijuan Pang ◽  
Shaohua Hu ◽  
...  

Background: Butyric acid, a major short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), has an important role in the microbiota–gut–brain axis and brain function. This study investigated the role of butyric acid in treatment response in drug-naïve first episode schizophrenia.Methods: The study recruited 56 Chinese Han schizophrenia inpatients with normal body weight and 35 healthy controls. Serum levels of butyric acid were measured using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis at baseline (for all participants) and 24 weeks after risperidone treatment (for patients). Clinical symptoms were measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for patients at both time points.Results: At baseline, there was no significant difference in serum levels of butyric acid between patients and healthy controls (p = 0.206). However, there was a significant increase in serum levels of butyric acid in schizophrenia patients after 24-week risperidone treatment (p = 0.030). The PANSS total and subscale scores were decreased significantly after 24-week risperidone treatment (p's &lt; 0.001). There were positive associations between baseline serum levels of butyric acid and the reduction ratio of the PANSS total and subscale scores after controlling for age, sex, education, and duration of illness (p's &lt; 0.05). Further, there was a positive association between the increase in serum levels of butyric acid and the reduction of the PANSS positive symptoms subscale scores (r = 0.38, p = 0.019) after controlling for potential confounding factors.Conclusions: Increased serum levels of butyric acid might be associated with a favorable treatment response in drug-naïve, first episode schizophrenia. The clinical implications of our findings were discussed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramin Lotfi ◽  
Mohsen Molaie ◽  
Ehsan Mohammadi Noori ◽  
Khalil Soleiman ◽  
Amir Kiani

Adipose tissue-derived hormones known as adipokines, like leptin, have multiple bioactions. Notwithstanding the key roles of leptin in regulating energy homeostasis and metabolism, its cardiovascular functions are complex and not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum concentrations of leptin and lipid profiles in patients with valve calcification. Seventy-two patients with valve calcification and 72 healthy individuals participated in this case-control study. The serum levels of biochemical markers and leptin were measured by the standard enzymatic methods and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique, respectively. Significantly increased serum concentrations of FBS (P=0.001), urea (P<0.0001), creatinine (P=0.018), P (P<0.0001), LDL-C (P=0.011) and lower Ca (P=0.006), and HDL-C (P<0.0001) levels were observed in patients compared to controls. There was no significant difference in the serum level of TG and TC of patients than controls. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly increased in patients relative to controls (P<0.0001). However, a significantly diminished serum level of leptin was observed in patients than controls (P<0.0001). The correlation analysis demonstrated that the serum leptin concentration is negatively correlated with creatinine, but it is positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (P=0.0302, P=0.0362, respectively). There was no statistically significant association between serum levels of leptin and lipid profiles. Our findings indicated dyslipidemia and reduced serum leptin concentrations in patients with valve calcification, suggesting the role of lipid abnormalities and reduced leptin levels in the development and pathogenesis of valve calcification diseases.


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