Neopterin, a pteridine intermediate metabolite in the biopterine synthetic pathway, is synthesized and secreted by monocyte/macrophages upon stimulation, mainly by gamma-interferon by activated T cells. C-reactive protein (CRP) is one of the major acute phase reactants and its release is thought to be mediated by interleukin-6. Soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) is released by activated T cells. Plasma concentrations of neopterin, CRP and sIL-2R were synchronously analyzed in 25 determinations of 5 patients with severe infectious complications. A marked increase in neopterin, CRP and sIL-2R levels was observed. The increase in neopterin was significantly correlated to that of neopterin which is a marker of macrophage activity. These results suggest that macrophages are involved in the stimulation of sIL-2R release. In contrast, the increase in neopterin was not correlated to that of CRP and the lack of correlation between neopterin and CRP indicated that independent mechanisms control the synthesis of these two markers.
© 2013 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co.
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