BACKGROUND: Activated neutrophils play an important role in the pathogenesis of renal injury in humans and in experimental models of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). To evaluate the clinical significance of the circulating granulocyte elastase-alpha1-proteinase inhibitor complex (GEPIC), which is a marker of neutrophil activation, we investigated the plasma concentrations of GEPIC in children with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) associated with verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC), VTEC gastroenteritis without HUS and in normal controls. METHODS: Of 22 children (1-19 years of age; mean age 5.5 years) with VTEC infection, nine were diagnosed with HUS. Plasma GEPIC, soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) and thrombin-antithrombin-III complex (TAT) levels were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and the levels of plasma GEPIC in patients with HUS were significantly higher than those in non-HUS (9850+/-5091 vs. 5278+/-3327 /microL, P<0.05; 432.1+/-211.7 vs. 188.3+/-117.0 ng/mL, P<0.01) or control subjects (9850+/-5091 vs. 4728+/-1977 /microL, P<0.05; 432.1+/-211.7 vs. 105.9+/-51.1 ng/mL, P<0.001). Furthermore, plasma GEPIC levels showed a positive correlation with sTM (r = 0.522; P<0.01), a marker of endothelial cell injury, and TAT (r = 0.594; P<0.01), a marker of thrombin activity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that an increase in circulating GEPIC levels in patients with VTEC-associated HUS may be related to endothelial injury, which may possibly lead to a more severe episode of this disease.
BACKGROUND: Activated neutrophils play an important role in the pathogenesis of renal injury in humans and in experimental models of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). To evaluate the clinical significance of the circulating granulocyte elastase-alpha1-proteinase inhibitor complex (GEPIC), which is a marker of neutrophil activation, we investigated the plasma concentrations of GEPIC in children with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) associated with verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC), VTEC gastroenteritis without HUS and in normal controls. METHODS: Of 22 children (1-19 years of age; mean age 5.5 years) with VTEC infection, nine were diagnosed with HUS. Plasma GEPIC, soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) and thrombin-antithrombin-III complex (TAT) levels were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and the levels of plasma GEPIC in patients with HUS were significantly higher than those in non-HUS (9850+/-5091 vs. 5278+/-3327 /microL, P<0.05; 432.1+/-211.7 vs. 188.3+/-117.0 ng/mL, P<0.01) or control subjects (9850+/-5091 vs. 4728+/-1977 /microL, P<0.05; 432.1+/-211.7 vs. 105.9+/-51.1 ng/mL, P<0.001). Furthermore, plasma GEPIC levels showed a positive correlation with sTM (r = 0.522; P<0.01), a marker of endothelial cell injury, and TAT (r = 0.594; P<0.01), a marker of thrombin activity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that an increase in circulating GEPIC levels in patients with VTEC-associated HUS may be related to endothelial injury, which may possibly lead to a more severe episode of this disease.
Authors: Julie U Holle; Julie M Williams; Lorraine Harper; Caroline O S Savage; C Mark Taylor Journal: Pediatr Nephrol Date: 2005-06-10 Impact factor: 3.714
Authors: Eszter Trojnar; Mihály Józsi; Zsóka Szabó; Marienn Réti; Péter Farkas; Kata Kelen; George S Reusz; Attila J Szabó; Nóra Garam; Bálint Mikes; György Sinkovits; Blanka Mező; Dorottya Csuka; Zoltán Prohászka Journal: Front Immunol Date: 2019-02-25 Impact factor: 7.561