title: Factors influencing serum neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin levels in a healthy diverse population.
abstract: Sera and questionnaire data from a population-based random sample of healthy adults was used to evaluate factors influencing neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) values. Both neopterin and beta 2m levels increased with age and were higher among white than blacks (mean values for whites and blacks: neopterin, 5.06 vs 4.49 nmol/L; beta 2m, 1.36 vs 1.28 mg/L). Gender differences were noted for beta 2m but not neopterin values (beta 2m males vs females: 1.37 vs 1.29 mg/L). Neopterin values were lower among current smokers than among nonsmokers (4.32 vs 5.16 nmol/L) and were higher among users of antihistamines (5.46 among users vs 4.65 nmol/L among nonusers). Neopterin and beta 2m were correlated in this healthy adult population (adjusted r = 0.53, P = 0.001), yet no other interrelationships with numerous biologic markers except between beta 2m and serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels (adjusted r = .41, P = 0.05) were observed. These findings provide important baseline information to consider before planning or evaluating studies utilizing neopterin or beta 2m levels.
authors.affiliation: Viral Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20852.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Diamondstone
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Tollerud
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wachter
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maloney
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kurman
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Blattner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D044469:Racial Groups; D012016:Reference Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin