Serum Diamine Oxidase Activity in Acute Gastroenteritis in Children

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activities were measured in 20 control patients and in 24 patients with gastroenteritis. Results (mean f SE) were as follows: 1) control patients (n = 20), 36.2 2 5.7 pmol h-' ml-I; 2) gastroenteritis (acute phase) (n = l l ) , 31 f 4.9 pmol h-' ml-I; 3) gastroenteritis (healing phase) (n = 21), 18 +. DAO, diamine oxidaseDiamine oxidase is an enzyme showing a high activity in small intestinal mucosal extracts of humans and other mammalian species (6). The enzyme is localized in the cytosol fraction of mature villous enterocytes (2). Mucosal DAO, through its implication in local polyamine and histamine catabolism, is thought to play a role in cell division, as well as a local protective role against histamine (2, 3). We have shown that a positive correlation exists between mucosal DAO and disaccharidase activities in children with a histologically normal duodenal mucosa (5). This supports the hypothesis that mucosal DAO activity reflects mucosal functional integrity. DAO activity is measurable not only in mucosal extracts but also in serum. Further correlation between serum and ileal activities has been shown to exist in the rat (6). The physiological function of circulating DAO is not known.Acute gastroenteritis is accompanied by mucosal destruction and decreased mucosal disaccharidase activities (1). If serum DAO activity accurately reflects small intestinal functional integrity, as stated above, a decrease of serum activities would be

Serum Diamine Oxidase in the Neonate

“…The very high DAO values in the mothers arc in agreement with the data in the litera ture [8], These values are very elevated when compared to our normal values for children and adults (36.2 ± 5.7 pmol f r 1 m l'1) [3].…”

“…Although our data at 7 days of age show that there is no difference between the mean value at this age when compared to our pre viously published results [3], we think the very large biological variations observed would preclude the use of serum DAO as a marker of small bowel functional integrity in the 1st postnatal week.…”

“…We suggest the high serum DAO levels in neonates during the first days of life are due to leakage of placental enzyme into the circulation either at birth or during fetal life. Consequently, serum DAO cannot be used as a marker of small bowel functional integrity in the 1st postnatal week.Diamine oxidase (DAO) is an enzyme lo cated in the cytosol fraction of small bowel mature enterocytes [1,5], Studies in the rat have shown that mucosal and serum DAO follow a parallel increase with postnatal in testinal maturation [5], We were able to show that in normal small bowel biopsies of chil dren, there exists a correlation between mu cosal lactase, maltase or sucrase activities and mucosal DAO activities, each of the lat ter enzymes characterizing mature functional enterocytes [2], We further showed a decrease of serum DAO in acute gastroenteritis [3] and in celiac disease [4], Both small bowel immaturity or injury could affect serum DAO activities in neo nates. Serum DAO is much increased in pregnant women's serum.…”

“…We have previously shown that serum DAO has some value as a marker of small bowel functional integrity in children [2][3][4]. The present study was undertaken in order to know whether the latter also applies to neo nates.…”

Diamine Oxidase Activity in the Duodenal Mucosa of Rats with Cysteamine-lnduced Ulceration

“…Crohn's disease and acute gastritis) is diamine oxidase (DAO: histaminase. EC 1.4.3.6) [12,13], Despite the presence of DAO in relatively large amounts in the small intestine of man and animals [14], its function in the gut is not certain. It is not known whether the enzyme is linked to the etiology or pathophysiology of duodenal ulceration, although its presence in the circulation (and presumably in the gut mucosa) may serve as a marker for mucosal integrity and maturation in the rat [ 15], Hista mine is thought to be involved in the develop ment of ulcers [16].…”