title: Neopterin and beta-2 microglobulin relations to immunity and inflammatory status in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to assess the relationships among serum neopterin (NPT), β2-microglobulin (β2-M) levels, clinical status, and endomyocardial biopsy results of dilated cardiomyopathy patients (DCM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum NPT and β-2 M were determined in 172 nonischaemic DCM patients who underwent right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy and 30 healthy subjects (ELISA test). The cryostat biopsy specimens were assessed using histology, immunohistology, and immunochemistry methods (HLA ABC, HLA DR expression, CD3 + lymphocytes, and macrophages counts).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The strong increase of HLA ABC or HLA DR expression was detected in 27.2% patients-group A-being low in 72.8% patients-group B. Neopterin level was increased in patients in group A compared to healthy controls 8.11 (4.50-12.57) versus 4.99 (2.66-8.28) nmol/L (P < 0.05). β-2 microglobulin level was higher in DCM groups A (2.60 (1.71-3.58)) and B (2.52 (1.51-3.72)) than in the control group 1.75 (1.28-1.96) mg/L, P < 0.001. Neopterin correlated positively with the number of macrophages in biopsy specimens (P < 0.05) acute phase proteins: C-reactive proteins (P < 0.05); fibrinogen (P < 0.01); and NYHA functional class (P < 0.05) and negatively with left ventricular ejection fraction (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neopterin but not β-2 microglobulin concentration reflected immune response in biopsy specimens. Neopterin correlated with acute phase proteins and stage of heart failure and may indicate a general immune and inflammatory activation in heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry, Medical University of Silesia, Ulica M.C. Skłodowskiej 10, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Celina
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3700-8439
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wojciechowska
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry, Medical University of Silesia, Ulica M.C. Skłodowskiej 10, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wodniecki
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry, Medical University of Silesia, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Romuald
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6385-2345
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wojnicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry, Medical University of Silesia, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2555-8102
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Romuk
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry, Medical University of Silesia, Ulica M.C. Skłodowskiej 10, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jacheć
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry, Medical University of Silesia, Ulica M.C. Skłodowskiej 10, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9312-762X
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomasik
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry, Medical University of Silesia, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Bronisława
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Skrzep-Poloczek
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry, Medical University of Silesia, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spinczyk
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry, Medical University of Silesia, Ulica M.C. Skłodowskiej 10, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nowalany-Kozielska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000502:physiology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D019798:Neopterin