Normal and pathological serum levels of alpha2-macroglobulins in men and mice.

Abstract

The serum levels of alpha2-macroglobulin have been measured in normal men and mice and in a number of immunopathological conditions. Normal human concentrations are high in youth, reach their minimum in middle age, and gradually increase with old age. In all age groups the mean is higher in the female than in the male. Conversely, in normal mice the alpha2M level is low in youth, maximum in middle age, and shows a slight depression with old age, and the levels are frequently higher in males than in females; there are also strain variations. In human immunopathological conditions, there are some deviations from the normal alpha2M level but these are seen to be changes from the normal distribution of values around the mean, rather than significant elevation or depression of mean values. In some disease states studied there are differences between the sexes in the deviation from normal. "Abnormal" strains of mice had alpha2M levels within the range exhibited by "normal" mice but changes in the levels are seen in mice with various myelomas.

Plasma levels of alpha1-antichymotrypsin and secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor in healthy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) subjects with and without severe α1-antitrypsin deficiency

“…For instance, α2-MG levels in cord blood and in young children have been found to be very high and to fall fairly rapidly from age 15 to 20 years, and to continue to decline gradually until the age of 30 to 40 [33-35]. Similar measurements in another study found concentrations of α2 MG in normals to be high in youth, reach their minimum in middle age, and gradually increase with old age [36]. It has been shown that plasma α2 MG levels in ZZ AAT subjects dropped from 310% at age 8 years to 215% at 18 years and to normal 100% levels at adult age.…”

Differential Expression of mRNA Coding for the Alpha-2-macroglobulin Family and the LRP Receptor System in C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ Male Mice.

“…MAM, MUG and their receptor, LRP, in B6 and C3H/HeJ male mouse strains. These differences are important extensions of some reported differences among these two mouse strains (Tunstall et al, 1975, Coutinho et al, 1998. The mRNA coding for MAM and MUG was expressed to higher levels in the liver of C3H/HeJ mice relative to B6 mice.…”

“…The tetrameric protein murine alpha-2-macroglobulin (MAM) and the monomeric protein murinoglobulin (MUG) represent AM species in mouse plasma. Differences in serum Alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) levels were observed among mouse strains (Tunstall et al, 1975), and it was also reported that A2M plasma levels are differently modulated after C3H/HeJ and B6 mice infection with T. cruzi (Luz et al, 1994). A2M has been implicated as mediator of the innate immune defense protecting against pathogens and some act as positive acute phase proteins (Chu andPizzo, 1994, Kataranovski et al, 1999).…”

Discovery and Characterization of Potential Prognostic Biomarkers for Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

“…Finally, although age-related differences for one of our biomarkers (Vtn) have been reported in healthy individuals; we did not have age-matched DF and DHF specimens in the serum panels for analysis by age. [45][46][47][48] Further validation is required before any of these biomarkers could be formulated as prognostic tests. Future studies should verify the prognostic utility of the biomarkers by analyzing biomarker levels over time and using the 2009 WHO severity classifications.…”