Biomaterial Database

Homocysteine accumulates in supernatants of stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. 2003

K Schroecksnadel, and B Frick, and B Wirleitner, and H Schennach, and D Fuchs

Institute of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.

Moderate hyperhomocysteinaemia is associated with atherosclerosis, thrombosis and also with stroke and dementia. Elevated homocysteine concentrations are related to deficiency of folate and also vitamin-B12, as these two vitamins are essential co-factors in the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. A causal role of homocysteine in the pathogenesis of vascular disease has been discussed over years. Immune activation appears to be involved strongly in atherogenesis as well as in other diseases found to be associated with moderate hyperhomocysteinaemia. To study a possible influence of immune stimulation on homocysteine metabolism, in vitro experiments were performed using peripheral blood mononuclear cells upon stimulation with mitogens concanavalin A, phytohaemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen. In stimulated cells a dose-dependent increase of homocysteine concentrations was found. When cells were kept in medium supplemented with methionine, homocysteine concentrations increased further, while supplementation with folate had only a slight effect. We conclude that in supernatants of stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells homocysteine is accumulating. T cell activation could be involved in the development of moderate hyperhomocysteinaemia.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007963	Leukocytes, Mononuclear	Mature LYMPHOCYTES and MONOCYTES transported by the blood to the body's extravascular space. They are morphologically distinguishable from mature granulocytic leukocytes by their large, non-lobed nuclei and lack of coarse, heavily stained cytoplasmic granules.	Mononuclear Leukocyte,Mononuclear Leukocytes,PBMC Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells,Peripheral Blood Human Mononuclear Cells,Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell,Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells,Leukocyte, Mononuclear
D008213	Lymphocyte Activation	Morphologic alteration of small B LYMPHOCYTES or T LYMPHOCYTES in culture into large blast-like cells able to synthesize DNA and RNA and to divide mitotically. It is induced by INTERLEUKINS; MITOGENS such as PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININS, and by specific ANTIGENS. It may also occur in vivo as in GRAFT REJECTION.	Blast Transformation,Blastogenesis,Lymphoblast Transformation,Lymphocyte Stimulation,Lymphocyte Transformation,Transformation, Blast,Transformation, Lymphoblast,Transformation, Lymphocyte,Activation, Lymphocyte,Stimulation, Lymphocyte
D008715	Methionine	A sulfur-containing essential L-amino acid that is important in many body functions.	L-Methionine,Liquimeth,Methionine, L-Isomer,Pedameth,L-Isomer Methionine,Methionine, L Isomer
D010835	Phytohemagglutinins	Mucoproteins isolated from the kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris); some of them are mitogenic to lymphocytes, others agglutinate all or certain types of erythrocytes or lymphocytes. They are used mainly in the study of immune mechanisms and in cell culture.	Kidney Bean Lectin,Kidney Bean Lectins,Lectins, Kidney Bean,Phaseolus vulgaris Lectin,Phaseolus vulgaris Lectins,Phytohemagglutinin,Hemagglutinins, Plant,Lectin, Kidney Bean,Lectin, Phaseolus vulgaris,Lectins, Phaseolus vulgaris,Plant Hemagglutinins
D011043	Pokeweed Mitogens	Proteins isolated from the roots of the pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, that agglutinate some erythrocytes, stimulate mitosis and antibody synthesis in lymphocytes, and induce activation of plasma cells.	Lectins, Pokeweed,Pokeweed Lectin,Pokeweed Lectins,Pokeweed Mitogen,Pokeweed Mitogen Isolectin,Isolectin, Pokeweed Mitogen,Lectin, Pokeweed,Mitogen Isolectin, Pokeweed,Mitogen, Pokeweed,Mitogens, Pokeweed
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D003208	Concanavalin A	A MANNOSE/GLUCOSE binding lectin isolated from the jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis). It is a potent mitogen used to stimulate cell proliferation in lymphocytes, primarily T-lymphocyte, cultures.
D005492	Folic Acid	A member of the vitamin B family that stimulates the hematopoietic system. It is present in the liver and kidney and is found in mushrooms, spinach, yeast, green leaves, and grasses (POACEAE). Folic acid is used in the treatment and prevention of folate deficiencies and megaloblastic anemia.	Pteroylglutamic Acid,Vitamin M,Folacin,Folate,Folic Acid, (D)-Isomer,Folic Acid, (DL)-Isomer,Folic Acid, Calcium Salt (1:1),Folic Acid, Monopotassium Salt,Folic Acid, Monosodium Salt,Folic Acid, Potassium Salt,Folic Acid, Sodium Salt,Folvite,Vitamin B9,B9, Vitamin
D006710	Homocysteine	A thiol-containing amino acid formed by a demethylation of METHIONINE.	2-amino-4-mercaptobutyric acid,Homocysteine, L-Isomer,2 amino 4 mercaptobutyric acid,Homocysteine, L Isomer,L-Isomer Homocysteine
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man