Neopterin, a marker of cell-mediated immune activation in human pregnancy.
High neopterin excretion is closely associated with activation of cell-mediated immunity. We studied urine and serum neopterin concentrations and serum interferon-gamma concentrations in normal pregnant women. In our study population, neopterin concentrations exceeded the normal range in 663 of 840 samples (79%). Neopterin levels increased with the time of pregnancy. Serum samples drawn from women in the third trimester of pregnancy also showed high neopterin concentrations in almost all cases; however, no circulating interferon-gamma was detected. Whereas neopterin is able to penetrate into the blood stream because of its small size (M = 253 D), diffusion of interferon-gamma is limited. Raised neopterin levels provide evidence for activated cell-mediated immunity during pregnancy.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
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LC
Fuith
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D
Fuchs
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A
Hausen
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H
Hetzel
G
G
Reibnegger
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ER
Werner
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Wachter
D000328:Adult; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D019798:Neopterin; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin