Association between homocysteine and neopterin in healthy subjects measured by a simple HPLC-fluorometric method.
OBJECTIVE
Neopterin and homocysteine promote vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation through the activation of nuclear factor(kappa) B. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between these two compounds in healthy subjects by a rapid HPLC-fluorometric method which simplifies sample pretreatment for the measurement of neopterin in serum.


METHODS
In 40 healthy subjects (45.9 +/- 2.1 yr, mean +/- SEM, 10 males, 30 females) serum neopterin concentrations were measured by HPLC-fluorometry and enzyme-linked immunusorbant assay-ELISA and the results were compared. Urinary neopterin and plasma total homocysteine concentrations were assayed by HPLC-fluorometry.


RESULTS
Serum neopterin concentrations measured by HPLC and ELISA were 7.5 +/- 0.4 and 7.4 +/- 0.3 nmol/L, respectively, r = 0.92, p < 0.01. Urinary neopterin level was 163.9 +/- 11.0 nmol/mmol creatinine and plasma total homocysteine 7.6 +/- 0.4 micromol/L. A significant positive correlation was observed between serum neopterin and plasma total homocysteine (r = 0.59, p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
A simple and rapid sample pretreatment for the measurement of neopterin in serum has been introduced. The significant positive correlation between neopterin and homocysteine implies that, interference with leukocyte function might be a new possible mechanism for the deleterious effects of homocysteine on vascular function.
Turgan
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N
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ege University School of Medicine, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey. turgan@med.ege.edu.tr
Habif
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S
Parildar
Z
Z
Ozmen
D
D
Mutaf
I
I
Erdener
D
D
Bayindir
O
O
D000328:Adult; D002624:Chemistry, Clinical / Q000379:methods; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005470:Fluorometry / Q000379:methods*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D013997:Time Factors
D006710:Homocysteine; D019798:Neopterin