Plasma levels and metabolism of AcSDKP in patients with chronic renal failure: relationship with erythropoietin requirements.

N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (AcSDKP) is a physiological inhibitor of hematopoiesis that is maintained at stable levels in normal plasma. Its degradation in vivo and in vitro by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) accounts for the high plasma concentrations of AcSDKP in patients treated with ACE inhibitors. Because ACE inhibitors can induce anemia in some patients, we measured plasma AcSDKP concentrations in 176 patients with chronic renal failure: 120 hemodialysis (HD) and 56 nondialysis (nD) patients, 39 of whom were administered ACE inhibitors.

Whole blood production of monocytic cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, sIL-6R, IL-1Ra) in haemodialysed patients.

Background: The production of monocytic cytokines by isolated mononuclear cells after stimulation by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is generally increased in haemodialysed (HD) patients. We performed whole blood (WB) cultures to evaluate cytokine production by blood cells inside their complex cellular and humoral network.

Methods: Diluted whole blood from HD patients (collected before dialysis) and controls was cultured alone with PHA (2.

The presence in human serum of a circulating soluble leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (sgp190) and its evolution during pregnancy.

The specific binding of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) or oncostatin-M (OSM) to transmembrane gp190 or gp130 leads to their oligomerization which is necessary for signal transduction. Although, sgp190 and sgp130 counterparts also exist, their biological significance remains to be determined. Interestingly, sgp190 forms have been identified in large amounts in normal mouse sera but so far not in human sera.

In vivo modifications of AcSDKP metabolism and haematopoiesis in mice treated with 5-fluorouracil and Goralatide.

Background: The tetrapeptide acetyl-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro (AcSDKP), a physiological inhibitor of the proliferation of haematopoietic stem cells, is degraded by the angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE). Whereas synthetic AcSDKP (Goralatide) protects normal mice from the haematological toxicity of chemotherapy, it has a lower beneficial effect in humans. This discrepancy could be dependent on Goralatide administration schedules, as well as on the endogenous concentrations of AcSDKP and ACE, which vary during chemotherapy.

Plasma leukaemia inhibitory factor, interleukin 6 and soluble interleukin 6 receptor levels during cardiopulmonary bypass with extracorporeal circulation.

In this study the authors assessed plasma leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) concentrations in 28 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with extracorporeal circulation (ECC). Plasma IL-6 levels increased during ECC, reaching a 33-fold increase 6 h after surgery as compared to pre-operative values. In contrast, plasma sIL-6R and LIF concentrations did not vary significantly during cardiac surgery.