title: [Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin as a new additional clinical marker in spinal muscular atrophies].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spinal muscular atrophies (SMA) are group of neuromuscular disorders characterized by degeneration of motorneurons in anterior column of medulla spinalis, and sometimes in motoneurons of cranial nerves and the brain. Causes of SMAs are mutations in genes encoding for SMN, SIP and NAIP that are very low in motorneurons of these patients. Ribonucleases (RNases) are enzymes that depolimerize RNA and may destabilize DNA.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine ribonuclease activity in serum and urine of SMA patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  RNases were purified by anion-kation-exchange chromatographies, and HPLC, and their activity was measured by immunodetection using specific antibodies against rinonucleases in presence of RNA as a substrate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) activity iin serum of SMA patients was 5.6, 3.8 and 2.6 higher in type I, II and III comparing with control group. RNase inhibitor activity in serum of the same patients was 3.0 and 2.4 lower in type I and II vs. Control group, but in type III was unchanged. Similar results are found in urine of the same patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased serum and urin EDN activities in SMA patients could be used as a new additional clinical marker in their diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Zavod za fiziologiju, Medicinski fakultet Univerziteta u Tuzli.
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ljuca
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nuhbegović
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sinanović
authors.forename: Claudi M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cuchillo
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D047208:Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D009134:Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D047208:Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin