Author/Authors :
Khorami, H Department ofPhysiology - Faculty ofPara-medicine - Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Neyestani, TR Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Kadkhodaee, Mehri Department of Physiology and Pharmacology -, Faculty of Medicine - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Lotfi, J Department of Physiology and Pharmacology -, Faculty of Medicine - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
Abstract :
Neopterin, apyrazinopyrimidine compound, is produced by macrophages after induction by interferon gamma (IFN-y) and serves as a marker of cellular immune system activation followed by oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to determine urinary neopterin to creatinine ratio (UNCR) as a surrogate marker of cell-mediated immune activation in multiple sclerosis (MS). Three weekly early morning urine samples were collected from 27 patients with MS and 31 age- and sex-matched apparently healthy subjects. Urinaiy neopterin and creatinine were determined using reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography and Jaffe reaction, respectively. UNCR was significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls indicating IFN-y-induced cellular immunity activation and oxidative stress in multiple sclerosis. As a non-invasive method,
UNCR determination may be helpful in monitoring disease progression and the effects of therapies, as well.
