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Psychological Stress and Immune Competence
Published in Thomas F. Kresina, Immune Modulating Agents, 2020
Elizabeth A. Bachen, Anna L. Marsland, Stephen B. Manuck, Sheldon Cohen
Because individuals in the gay community are often subjected to multiple losses attributable to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), investigators have begun to examine the immunological correlates of bereavement in human immunodeficiency virus-(HIV)-seropositive and HIV-seronegative gay men. Recently, Kemeny et al. [39] found that HIV-seropositive men who had lost an intimate partner to AIDS in the previous year showed decreases in proliferative responses to PHA and increases in serum neopterin levels after the loss. Life-style and medication factors (recreational drug use, smoking, level of exercise, sleep loss, and use of azidothymidine (zidovudine) [AZT]) did not account for the findings. While stress has been linked to decreased neopterin levels in healthy individuals [27], infection from HIV is known to increase neopterin production, and heightened levels have been shown to be a strong predictor of the development of AIDS [40]. However, in the case of HIV-negative men, no immunological changes were found after the death of an intimate partner.
Introduction
Published in Jay A. Goldstein, Chronic Fatigue Syndromes, 2020
The idea that CFS is a cytokine-mediated disorder was strengthened by frequent detection of various T-lymphocyte markers suggesting immune activation. Cytokines are produced when T-lym-phocytes are activated. In 1987 and 1988 I found that HLA-DR and IL-2 receptor levels were increased in some patients, and that many had an increased CD4/CD8 ratio, perhaps indicating inadequate suppression of the immune response, although a subset of CD8 cells measuring numbers of cytotoxic T lymphocytes was frequently elevated. Beta-2 microglobulin, a measure of T-cell receptor turnover, was virtually never increased. I was not able to measure serum neopterin at the time, but other workers have recently reported it to be sometimes elevated.16 Dr. Cheney finds the soluble CD8 receptor to be elevated in about 50% of patients. He states that IL-2R and CD8R levels can be used as measures of disease activity in CFS, perhaps being the elusive “CFS sed rate” many of us have been looking for.
Hyperphenylalaninemia and defective metabolism of tetrahydrobiopterin
Published in William L. Nyhan, Georg F. Hoffmann, Aida I. Al-Aqeel, Bruce A. Barshop, Atlas of Inherited Metabolic Diseases, 2020
William L. Nyhan, Georg F. Hoffmann, Aida I. Al-Aqeel, Bruce A. Barshop
Defects in GTPCH account for about 5 percent of those with abnormalities in biopterin metabolism. In these patients, levels of both neopterin and biopterin are low, but their ratio may be normal [6, 8, 45, 55]. Concentrations of neurotransmitters and their metabolites 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and homovanillic acid are low in CSF. High concentrations of phenylalanine are corrected with BH4 loading or replacement.
The role of neopterin and anti-Mullerian hormone in unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss – a case-control study
Published in Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2019
Halime Sencan, Nadi Keskin, Ghanim Khatib
Neopterin (NP) is one of the most popular biochemical markers in the late stages, which emerges as a result of the cellular immunity system activation (Murr et al. 2002). NP production and release were observed from human monocytes and macrophages activated by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) stimulation (Muller et al. 1991; Fuchs et al. 1993). Therefore, NP is thought to shed light on the diagnosis of many diseases where T lymphocytes and macrophages are involved in their aetiopathology (Fuchs et al. 1992). The linkage of NP to cellular immunity has been shown in many studies and can now be used for the diagnosis, severity or the prognosis of the infectious or inflammatory diseases in which monocyte and macrophage activation are present (Fuchs et al. 1993; Hoffmann et al. 2003). T-lymphocyte-2 (Th-2) metabolites are increased in a normal pregnancy. While, the increase in T-lymphocyte-1 (Th-1) metabolites may lead to poor prognostic outcomes, such as preeclampsia, spontaneous abortion, missed abortion and RPL (Vassiliadis et al. 1998; Darmochwal-Kolarz et al. 1999; Saito et al. 1999; Balkanli-Kaplan et al. 2004). Therefore, NP was considered in this study to evaluate its role in the URPL cases and whether it can be used as a marker in these patients.
New markers of cell migration and inflammation in children with chronic kidney disease
Published in Biomarkers, 2019
Kinga Musiał, Danuta Zwolińska
Neopterin, as a direct product of stimulated monocytes and macrophages, seemed the best parameter to assess the activity of these cells in inflammatory conditions and consequently, the cell-mediated immunity. Indeed, neopterin has shown the similar discrepancy as MCP-1 and MCSF serum levels between HD and APD patients, as well as the fluctuations due to a single HD session impact, observed earlier in the adult population (Asci et al.2010). However, the concentrations in CKD and APD children, as well as before the HD sessions, were comparable. Therefore, neopterin has turned out less specific for depicting monocyte-macrophage interactions than MCP-1 and MCSF. Moreover, neopterin was the weakest predictor of any analyzed MMP/TIMP. This discrepancy may result from the fact that serum MCP-1 and MCSF act as chemotactic agents, triggering migration of cells efficiently even in a short time span. The subsequent cell activation in situ, resulting in neopterin systemic release, is a chronic inflammatory process, probably less dependent on abrupt fluctuations during a single haemodialysis session. Therefore, neopterin seems more useful in assessing a long-term inflammatory burden than a short-span migratory stimulation of monocytes and macrophages.
Neopterin as a novel marker; well correlated with mortality and morbidity in patients with advanced systolic heart failure
Published in Acta Cardiologica, 2019
Şerafettin Demir, Hüseyin Ede, Mehmet Kaplan, Fethi Yavuz, Ceyhun Yücel, İbrahim Halil Kurt
Heart failure is still an ongoing devastating problem all over the globe. It is accountable for large economic expenses, frequent hospitalisation, and high mortality rate. Thus, its prompt diagnosis and treatment are vital for better outcomes. To obtain such result, biomarkers, such as BNP, the amino-terminal fragment of pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and hs-CRP have been introduced for clinical usage along with echocardiography. But, all have limitations in practice. Neopterin is a novel biomarker of macrophage/monocyte activation. However, its role in the management of HF has not been extensively studied. Thus our study can fill the gap in this field.