RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is of great clinical importance in restricted areas of Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Romania, since the etiology of BEN is still unknown. METHODS: In urine samples from 48 patients (41 females and 7 males, aged 65.6 +/- 6.87 years) with BEN living in an endemic area of Vratza district, Bulgaria, neopterin concentrations were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and compared with other clinical and laboratory investigations, including creatinine, hemoglobin, and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESRs). RESULTS: Urinary neopterin concentrations were 263 +/- 128 (mean +/- SD; range, 78 to 786 micromol/mol creatinine), 24 (50%) of BEN patients presented with increased concentrations as compared to the established normal ranges. Average ESRs were increased (1 hour, 29.0 +/- 14.7 mm/hour) and hemoglobin was decreased (109.3 +/- 16.4 g/L). Hemoglobin correlated inversely with ESRs (rs = -0.787 and -0.780) and creatinine concentrations (r = -0.690, all P < 0.001), but not with neopterin concentrations. Neopterin concentrations also did not correlate with serum creatinine levels. There existed an age relationship of ESR, creatinine, and hemoglobin, but not of neopterin. Neopterin concentrations were slightly lower in five females with low titers of antibodies against local B1 hantavirus strain (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings can support an immune-mediated inflammatory process in the pathogenesis of BEN only in a subgroup of patients.
Asunto(s)
Nefropatía de los Balcanes/inmunología , Nefropatía de los Balcanes/orina , Neopterin/inmunología , Neopterin/orina , Anciano , Biomarcadores , Bulgaria , Femenino , Humanos , Macrófagos/inmunología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
Three cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) of IgM and IgG2b isotype were generated in two separate fusions after immunization of BALB/c mice with heat killed Salmonella minnesota R595 of Re chemotype and acid-treated bacteria, coated with Re lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigen. The specificity of the MAbs was demonstrated as the Re LPS antigen. The activity and cross-reactivity against purified elementary bodies of Chlamydia trachomatis and various S- and R-LPS antigens of other Gram-negative bacteria were characterized in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, passive hemolysis assay, immunoblot and immunofluorescence with the available chlamydial strains. The results demonstrated cross-reaction between the Re LPS antigen, the genus-specific chlamydial LPS and the LPS antigens of Escherichia coli O119 and Acinetobacter baumannii, suggesting the presence of identical or similar epitopes in the lipopolysaccharide antigens. The findings are implying the necessity of novel approaches, improving the specificity of serologic assays in the laboratory diagnosis of chlamydial infections.