Effect of the compound L-mimosine in an in vivo model of chronic granuloma formation induced by potassium permanganate (KMNO4).

The plant amino acid L-mimosine has recently been suggested to inhibit cells at a regulatory step in late G phase before establishment of active DNA replication forks. In addition, L-mimosine is an extremely effective inhibitor of DNA replication in chromosomes of mammalian nuclei. In this work, the effect of L-mimosine on chronic inflammation induced by dorsal injections of 0.2 ml of a 1:40 saturated crystal solution of potassium permanganate in mice, was studied. Seven days afterwards, all mice developed a subcutaneous granulomatous tissue indicative of chronic inflammatory response at the site of infection. The intraperitoneal administration of L-mimosine (200 μg/dose) to the potassium permanganate treated mice for 5 consecutive days (the first at the same time of inoculation of the KMnO4), produced a significant decrease in size and weight of the granuloma when compared to mice not treated with L-mimosine (controls). In addition, in all mice treated with L-mimosine, there was a strong inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha that was revealed in the serum (P<0.05) and in the minced granulomas. Interleukin-6 was not detected in the serum of treated and untreated mice. These findings show for the first time, that L-mimosine may have an anti-inflammatory effect on chronic inflammation and an inhibitory effect on tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 generation in supernatant fluids of minced granulomas

Serial procalcitonin responses in infection of children with secondary immunodeficiency

Purpose: Procalcitonin has proven to be a sensitive inflammatory marker in non-neutropenic patients. The aim of this study was to determine and compare Procalcitonin with other inflammatory markers in the serum of immunosuppressed children with haematological malignancies; and to assess the predictive value of these mediators in distinguishing between bacterial and non-bacterial infection. Methods & Results: The study included 37 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia undergoing intensive chemotherapy. They were divided into 3 groups, A, B and C. Group A consisted of 29 neutropenic children with 94 febrile episodes, group B of 20 neutropenic children with 56 afebrile episodes and group C of 13 non-neutropenic children with 58 afebrile episodes. Serial serum levels of PCT, C-Reactive Protein, Neopterin, Interleukin-6 and NO2/NO3 were all determined on a day-to-day basis for 7 consecutive days. In serum the concentrations of CRP was determined by nephelometry, of PCT by immunoluminescence and of Neopterin, IL-6 and NO2/NO3 by ELISA method. Conclusions: According to our results the Procalcitonin concentration increased rapidly in patients with microbial infection; the response was detectable within 24 hs of the onset of fever due to microbial infections. Procalcitonin is a spesific and sensitive marker of microbial infection in patients with neutropenic fever. The markers, C-Reactive Protein, Interleukin-6 and NO2/NO3 may not help to identify infections and distinguishe the etiology of infection in neutropenic febrile children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia