Showing papers on "Protein Z published in 2017"

Serum amyloid A, protein Z, and C4b-binding protein β chain as new potential biomarkers for pulmonary tuberculosis.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to discover novel biomarkers for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Differentially expressed proteins in the serum of patients with TB were screened and identified by iTRAQ-two dimensional liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis. A total of 79 abnormal proteins were discovered in patients with TB compared with healthy controls. Of these, significant differences were observed in 47 abnormally expressed proteins between patients with TB or pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with TB (n = 136) exhibited significantly higher levels of serum amyloid A (SAA), vitamin K-dependent protein Z (PROZ), and C4b-binding protein β chain (C4BPB) than those in healthy controls (n = 66) (P<0.0001 for each) albeit significantly lower levels compared with those in patients with pneumonia (n = 72) (P<0.0001 for each) or COPD (n = 72) (P<0.0001, P<0.0001, P = 0.0016, respectively). After 6 months of treatment, the levels of SAA and PROZ were significantly increased (P = 0.022, P<0.0001, respectively), whereas the level of C4BPB was significantly decreased (P = 0.0038) in treated TB cases (n = 72). Clinical analysis showed that there were significant differences in blood clotting and lipid indices in patients with TB compared with healthy controls, patients with pneumonia or COPD, and treated TB cases (P<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed significant correlations between PROZ and INR (rs = 0.414, P = 0.044), and between C4BPB and FIB (rs = 0.617, P = 0.0002) in patients with TB. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve value of the diagnostic model combining SAA, PROZ, and C4BPB to discriminate the TB group from the healthy control, pneumonia, COPD, and cured TB groups was 0.972, 0.928, 0.957, and 0.969, respectively. Together, these results suggested that SAA, PROZ, and C4BPB may serve as new potential biomarkers for TB. Our study may thus provide experimental data for the differential diagnosis of TB.

The Role of Protein Z and Protein Z-Dependent Protease Inhibitor Polymorphisms in the Development of Prosthetic Heart Valve Thrombosis.

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY Protein Z (PZ) is a vitamin K-dependent factor that is synthesized mainly by the liver. It acts as an activator of serpin, the protein Z-dependent inhibitor (ZPI), which inhibits factor Xa. The potential role of alterations in protein Z and/or ZPI levels in the pathogenesis of thrombotic and/or hemorrhagic diseases has been previously investigated, but results have been conflicting. The study aim was to evaluate the role of PZ/ZPI polymorphisms in the development of prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT). METHODS This prospective, observational cross-sectional study included 50 consecutive patients with PVT [non-obstructive thrombosis (NOT) in 35 patients; obstructive thrombosis (OT) in 15] and 50 consecutive healthy subjects with normally functioning prostheses. gDNA was extracted from ca. 5 × 106 leukocytes, using the QIAamp DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen), according to the manufacturer's recommendations. For mutational analysis, a minisequencing method was employed. Results of the analyses were compared between the PVT and control groups, and also between the OT and NOT subgroups. RESULTS The frequency of A allele (mutant type) of PZG79A was equal in all PVT patients and in controls. With regards to PZ-A13G polymorphisms, frequency of the mutant G allele was 22% in PVT patients and 19% in controls. Serpina-R67X polymorphism was observed in 8% of PVT patients and 6% of controls. Normal variant CC was present in 47 controls (94%), whereas a heterozygotic mutation (CT) was detected in four PVT patients (8%). Frequency of the ZPI-R67X mutation was significantly higher in patients with OT than in those with NOT (p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS The present study was the first to evaluate the potential impact of PZ (PZ-A13G, PZG79A) and ZPI (R-67X, W303X) polymorphisms in the development of PVT. Based on the results of this small observational case-control study, PZ/ZPI polymorphisms do not appear to play an active role in the development of PVT. Hence, further extensive studies are necessary.

Protein Z (PZ) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) plasma levels in patients with previously untreated Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).

Abstract: PURPOSE The role of Protein Z (PZ) in conditions, such as thrombosis, inflammation or cancer, is under investigation. Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is an acute phase reactant that promotes thrombosis and tumorigenesis. Subject of this work was to study PZ and PAI-1 in patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL), a malignancy with inflammatory background and relatively low incidence of thrombosis. METHODS Newly diagnosed patients were enrolled in the study. Healthy individuals were used as controls. RESULTS PZ levels were higher in patients compared to controls (not significantly), while PAI-1 levels were significantly higher in patients. Both PZ and PAI-1 concentrations did not correlate with most of patients' characteristics. Lower PZ levels at diagnosis were associated with presence of B symptoms and positive final positron emission tomography (PET) and higher baseline PAI-1 levels with positive final PET, too. PZ had a declining trend, but PAI-1 increased initially and decreased thereafter, during the treatment period. CONCLUSIONS Conclusively, PAI-1, but not PZ, seems to be an acute phase protein in HL. Lower PZ and higher PAI-1 levels at diagnosis may be indicative of aggressive disease. These results need further verification.

The possible relationship between epistaxis and protein Z plasma levels

Abstract: Epistaxis represents a very common emergency in any ear, nose, and throat (ENT) department around the world. Frequently seen in the systemic vascular patients, nasal anatomy the lack of vessels muscular structure, the absence of vasoconstriction ability, the clot formed in the bleeding area further increases the amount of bleeding supports the importance of vascular causes in the etiology. The purpose of our research is to evaluate the relationship between epistaxis and plasma protein Z levels. 18 patients with epistaxis and 30 healthy subjects were investigated. 8 of patients gruop (44.4%) participating the research were women, 10 of them (55.6%) were men, in total 18 people. Control group consisted of 16 women (53.3%), 14 men (46.7%), 30 people in total. Both groups were measured about protein C (PC), protein S (PS), and protein Z (PZ). PC and PS concentrations were determined in plasma by using cholorimetric and the formation clotting methods, respectively. Sandwich enzyme immunoassay method was used for the determination of PZ plasma concentrations. While statistically there were no significant differences detected comparing Protein S and Protein C levels data of control group, (p=0.27 ve p=0.29 respectively). Protein Z levels of patient group was found significantly lower than Protein Z levels of control group and this was found to be statistically significant (p