title: Significant increase of prostaglandin E-major urinary metabolite in male smokers: a screening study of age and gender differences using a simple radioimmunoassay.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For the assessment of inflammatory status, we have developed a simple, reliable radioimmunoassay (RIA) of prostaglandin E-major urinary metabolite (PGE-MUM), which remains stable in urine after it is metabolized. Using this method, we conducted a screening study to compare standard values of PGE-MUM to serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in health check volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  PGE-MUM (micrograms per gram creatinine) was measured in normal urine samples obtained from 797 samples in volunteers for health check, using a newly developed RIA, and analyzed in relation to age, gender, smoking, and drinking habits. Results were compared to serum CRP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PGE-MUM was significantly higher in males than in females. It was significantly higher in smoking males, compared to males who had never smoked (nonsmokers), particularly in those above 40 years of age. In nonsmokers, PGE-MUM declined in males with advancing age, while it rose in females. Although PGE-MUM reflected current smoking status, independent of smoking index (SI), serum CRP indicated both current and former smoking condition, rather dependent upon SI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PGE-MUM increases in smokers, as suggested by possible inflammatory injury of pulmonary tissue. This RIA method for PGE-MUM may be thus a sensitive and reliable biomarker for current inflammation, different from serum CRP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okayasu
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohnishi
authors.forename: Istvan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sarandi
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shojima
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: Masae
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oritsu
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasabe
authors.forename: Kaori Okayasu
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Nanami
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Jun-Ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Azumi
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Mutsunori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000652:urine; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004327:Drinking Behavior; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000652:urine*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D011865:Radioisotope Dilution Technique; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012907:Smoking / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D011458:Prostaglandins E; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: CRP; age and gender; prostaglandin E-major urinary metabolite; radioimmunoassay; smoking