title: Identification of an Adrenomedullin precursor fragment in plasma of sepsis patients.
abstract: Adrenomedullin and PAMP are potent vasodilatory peptides derived from a common larger precursor peptide. Elevation of circulating levels of both peptides has been described for diseases involving dysfunction of the cardiovascular system. However, the reliable quantification has been hampered by their short half-life times and - as known for Adrenomedullin -- the existence of a binding protein. Here we report the identification of another peptide derived from the Adrenomedullin precursor, termed proADM 45-92, which is present in large concentrations in plasma of septic shock patients. This peptide is produced in stoichiometric amounts to Adrenomedullin and PAMP, but -- contrary to them -- is apparently non-functional and stable. Thus, proADM 45-92 represents a suitable diagnostic target which could be used to assess the concentrations of Adrenomedullin gene products released into the bloodstream.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, B.R.A.H.M.S Aktiengesellschaft, Neuendorfstr. 25, D-16761 Hennigsdorf, Germany. j.struck@brahms.de
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Struck
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Nils G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Morgenthaler
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergmann
mesh_terms: D053607:Adrenomedullin; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011506:Proteins; C094998:adrenomedullin precursor (45-92); C088633:proadrenomedullin; D053607:Adrenomedullin