Elevated adenosine deaminase levels in celiac disease

HMGB1 is related to disease activity in children with celiac disease

INTRODUCTION

We aim to evaluate of the relationship between high mobility gene box-1 (HMGB1) levels and clinical, laboratory and histopathological findings at diagnosis and in remission in children with Celiac Disease (CD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 36 celiac patients at diagnosis, 36 celiac patients in remission, and 36 healthy controls. Patients with intestinal pathologies other than CD, and accompanying inflammatory and/or autoimmune diseases were excluded. Relationship between HMGB1 levels and clinical, laboratory and histopathological findings were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 72 celiac patients [36 (18 girls, 18 boys, mean age 9.41±3.9 years) in group 1 and 36 (18 girls, 18 boys, mean age 9.91±3.36 years) in group 2] and 36 healthy controls in group 3 (19 girls, 17 boys, mean age 9.56±4 years) were included. The HMGB1 level was significantly higher in group 1 compared to group 2 and group 3 [36.63 (17.98-54.72) ng/ml vs 20.31 (16.89-29.79) ng/ml, p = 0.028 and 36.63 (17.98-54.72) ng/ml vs 20.38 (17.54-24.53) ng/ml p = 0.012, respectively]. A serum HMGB-1 level of 26.553 ng/ml was found to be a cut-off value for the CD with 61% sensitivity, 83% specificity, 78% positive predictive value, and 68% negative predictive value. Higher HMGB1 values were seen in patients with intestinal findings, anemia, anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA levels that were greater than 10 times upper limit of normal, and patients with a higher degree of atrophy as classified by Marsh-Oberhuber.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, it was thought that HMGB-1 might be a marker that reflects the severity of atrophy at the time of diagnosis and could be used to control dietary compliance in the follow-up. However, there is need for larger population studies in order to evaluate its value as a serological marker for the diagnosis and follow-up of CD and to find a more reliable cut-off value.

Changes of adenosine deaminase activity in serum and saliva around parturition in sows with and without postpartum dysgalactia syndrome

BACKGROUND

Postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PDS) is associated with a significantly higher activation of the inflammatory and stress response at parturition than in the healthy sow. Therefore, reliable and possibly non-invasive biomarkers for substantial increases of inflammation are searched to support the PDS diagnosis. This report studies the possible changes of the inflammatory marker enzyme adenosine deaminase (ADA) in serum and saliva of 38 PDS positive sows (PDS+) and 38 healthy sows (PDS-). Sampling was performed every 24 h from 60 h before to 36 h after parturition. Isoenzyme 1 (ADA1) and isoenzyme 2 (ADA2), as well as total ADA (tADA), were measured and their statistical association with several serum and saliva biomarkers of inflammation and stress was investigated.

RESULTS

Compared to a baseline (60 to 36h prepartum), salivary activities of ADA1, ADA2 and tADA increased significantly over time in both PDS+ and PDS- sows, reaching their peaks after parturition. In serum from PDS- sows, no changes were observed over time in either ADA1, ADA2 or tADA. In PDS+ sows, serum ADA2 activity decreased temporarily after parturition followed by a significant increase compared to baseline. ADA1, ADA2 and tADA were all significantly associated with several inflammatory biomarkers and ADA1 in serum was associated with serum cortisol. Although serum activity was higher in PDS+ than in PDS- sows, the differences were not statistically significant. Further, no difference was noted between the groups in the analyses of saliva.

CONCLUSIONS

Salivary ADA1 and ADA2 increased in all sows after parturition, potentially as a response to the postpartum inflammation. However, no difference in the activity of ADA1, ADA2 and tADA were found between PDS+ and PDS- sows indicating inability to diagnose PDS under the conditions described in this report.

Adenosine deaminase inhibition

Adenosine deaminase is a critical enzyme in purine metabolism that regulates intra and extracellular adenosine concentrations by converting it to inosine. Adenosine is an important purine that regulates numerous physiological functions by interacting with its receptors. Adenosine and consequently adenosine deaminase can have pro or anti-inflammatory effects on tissues depending on how much time has passed from the start of the injury. In addition, an increase in adenosine deaminase activity has been reported for various diseases and the significant effect of deaminase inhibition on the clinical course of different diseases has been reported. However, the use of inhibitors is limited to only a few medical indications. Data on the increase of adenosine deaminase activity in different diseases and the impact of its inhibition in various cases have been collected and are discussed in this review. Overall, the evidence shows that many studies have been done to introduce inhibitors, however, in vivo studies have been much less than in vitro, and often have not been expanded for clinical use.

Easy and non-invasive disease detection in pigs by adenosine deaminase activity determinations in saliva

The quantification of adenosine deaminase (ADA) in porcine saliva samples has been analyzed for its use as a marker of disease. First, an analytical validation of the enzymatic assay used for ADA measurements was performed. Afterwards, saliva samples were collected from 50 healthy animals and 64 animals with different symptoms of disease, which were divided into local inflammation, gastrointestinal disorder, respiratory disorder and growth retardation. To optimize ADA measurements, total ADA (tADA), specific ADA (sADA) and ADA isoforms 1 and 2 activities were calculated. Moreover, to preliminarily estimate the diagnostic value of tADA activity measurements for disease detection, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses was performed and compared to the results obtained for salivary acute phase proteins, haptoglobin (Hp) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The salivary levels of tADA activity were significantly elevated in animals with local inflammation, gastrointestinal disorder and respiratory disorder. The calculation of the different ADA activities did not provide additional information to tADA activity quantification for disease detection. The diagnostic value of tADA activity was superior to those observed for Hp and CRP measurements in the present study. It might be concluded that ADA analysis in saliva could be used as a simple, rapid, economic and non-invasive diagnostic tool in porcine production in field conditions.

No association between serum adenosine deaminase activity and disease activity in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Adenosine deaminase activity is proposed as a marker of inflammation in some inflammatory conditions.

AIMS

To investigate the association of serum adenosine deaminase activity and disease activity in Crohn's disease patients.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, 30 consecutive known cases of Crohn's disease (15 with active disease and 15 in remission) referring to a university hospital in Tehran (Iran) and 15 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were studied. Disease activity was assessed using the Crohn's disease activity index (cutoff >150). Total serum adenosine deaminase activity, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and fecal calprotectin were evaluated in patients. Serum adenosine deaminase activity was measured in controls.

RESULTS

Mean age of the patients was 36.8 ± 12.6 years, and 56.7 % were male. Serum adenosine deaminase activity in patients with active disease, patients in remission, and controls was 12.3 ± 5.9, 14.6 ± 6.2, and 11.9 ± 6.4 U/L, respectively (P = 0.458). Compared with patients in remission, those with active disease had higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (40.4 ± 30.6 vs. 16.9 ± 16.0 mm/h, P = 0.014) and higher frequency of positive C-reactive protein (66.6 vs. 13.3 %, P = 0.004) and positive fecal calprotectin tests (86.6 vs. 33.3 %, P = 0.004). Serum adenosine deaminase activity was not correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.05, P = 0.761) and was not different between patients with positive and negative C-reactive protein (12.2 ± 5.4 vs. 14.2 ± 6.5 U/L, P = 0.393) and fecal calprotectin tests (11.7 ± 5.3 vs. 16.0 ± 6.5 U/L, P = 0.063).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with Crohn's disease, serum adenosine deaminase activity is not associated with clinical disease activity or with other inflammation markers and cannot be suggested as an inflammation marker.

Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases II: Celiac sprue and gluten intolerance

Celiac disease, and, more generally, gluten intolerance, is a growing problem worldwide, but especially in North America and Europe, where an estimated 5% of the population now suffers from it. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, skin rashes, macrocytic anemia and depression. It is a multifactorial disease associated with numerous nutritional deficiencies as well as reproductive issues and increased risk to thyroid disease, kidney failure and cancer. Here, we propose that glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide, Roundup(®), is the most important causal factor in this epidemic. Fish exposed to glyphosate develop digestive problems that are reminiscent of celiac disease. Celiac disease is associated with imbalances in gut bacteria that can be fully explained by the known effects of glyphosate on gut bacteria. Characteristics of celiac disease point to impairment in many cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are involved with detoxifying environmental toxins, activating vitamin D3, catabolizing vitamin A, and maintaining bile acid production and sulfate supplies to the gut. Glyphosate is known to inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes. Deficiencies in iron, cobalt, molybdenum, copper and other rare metals associated with celiac disease can be attributed to glyphosate's strong ability to chelate these elements. Deficiencies in tryptophan, tyrosine, methionine and selenomethionine associated with celiac disease match glyphosate's known depletion of these amino acids. Celiac disease patients have an increased risk to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which has also been implicated in glyphosate exposure. Reproductive issues associated with celiac disease, such as infertility, miscarriages, and birth defects, can also be explained by glyphosate. Glyphosate residues in wheat and other crops are likely increasing recently due to the growing practice of crop desiccation just prior to the harvest. We argue that the practice of "ripening" sugar cane with glyphosate may explain the recent surge in kidney failure among agricultural workers in Central America. We conclude with a plea to governments to reconsider policies regarding the safety of glyphosate residues in foods.

Detection of potential markers for systemic disease in saliva of pigs by proteomics: a pilot study

Animals with different health status have been studied in order to extend the knowledge about protein composition of porcine saliva samples and to discover potential salivary markers for systemic disease in porcine production. Clinical examination of animals was performed at farm level where 10 healthy pigs and 10 animals with evident clinical signs of disease were randomly selected. Saliva and blood samples were obtained and afterwards animals were humanely sacrificed to perform a complete necropsy. Levels of two acute phase proteins, haptoglobin and C-reactive protein, were used to identify possible active infections of the animals. Moreover, serological analysis, to the main porcine infectious diseases in the area, was performed. Salivary proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry for the identification of specific proteins. A total of 58 spots out of 75 were successfully identified by MS, which correspond to 20 unique proteins. Two different approaches were used to perform a statistical comparison of saliva protein patterns from healthy and diseased animals using the relative spot volume (% spot volume/total volume of all spot in the gel, approach "A") or taking also into account the total protein content of each saliva sample (μg of spot/mL of saliva, approach "B"). Both analyses showed three proteins in common that are differentially regulated between states. However, approach B was selected for biomarker searching since it gave an estimation of protein concentration and showed differential expression of proteins between both health states in a total of 10 proteins, which were up-regulated in disease. Mass spectrometric analysis identified those proteins as salivary lipocalin, lipocalin 1, double headed protease inhibitor protein, adenosine deaminase, haptoglobin, albumin fragments, S100-A8, S100-A9, S100-A12 and pancreatic alpha amylase. These proteins could be considered as potential salivary markers of disease.

Serum adenosine deaminase activity as a predictor of disease severity in ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent inflammation and ulcerations of colonic mucosa and an inappropriate and delayed healing. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is a cytoplasmic enzyme involved in the catabolism of purine bases, capable of catalyzing the deamination of adenosine, forming inosine in the result process. Although ADA has been shown to increase in several inflammatory conditions, there are no literature data indicating an alteration in UC.

METHODS

This study evaluated the activity of total ADA in serum of 43 patients with UC and 18 healthy controls. Patients' age, disease duration, drug intake, and other medical history were all noted for each subject. Complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined for both patients and controls. Correlation analysis was also performed between ADA and other inflammation markers of UC.

RESULTS

Serum mean ADA levels were 11.12 ± 2.03 and 7.99 ± 2.04 U/l for patients with UC in active state and in remission and 8.55 ± 2.26 U/l in the healthy control group. Mean serum ADA levels were significantly elevated in active UC patients compared with patients with UC in remission and control groups. Overall accuracy of ADA in determination of active UC was 83.7 with sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 84.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum ADA levels were found to be elevated in UC patients in active state suggesting a partial role of activated T-cell response in the disease pathophysiology. Further randomized controlled studies are warranted to demonstrate the role of ADA in UC patients, with a special interest in specifically targeted therapies against ADA for achieving disease remission.