Arginase activity and CD3ζ expression after major surgery

Letter.-- et al.The studies from our laboratory were supported by grants from Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (SAF2011-30518; and RD12/0036/0065 from Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Cáncer, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, cofunded by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional of the European Union), the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme FP7-2007-2013 (grant HEALTH-F2-2011-256986, PANACREAS), and Junta de Castilla y León (CSI052A11-2 and CSI221A12-2).Peer Reviewe

Arginase as a new concern in blood transfusion

Letter to the editor.-- et al.This work was supported in part from the Junta de Castilla y León (Biomedicine project 2011-2012, and CSI221A12-2), Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Cáncer, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, co-funded by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional of the European Union (RD06/0020/1037 and RD12/0036/0065), and the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (SAF2011-30518).Peer Reviewe

Inflammatory response, immunosuppression, and cancer recurrence after perioperative blood transfusion

Correspondence.Peer Reviewe

DNA polymerase λ, a novel DNA repair enzyme in human cells

DNA polymerase lambda (pol λ) is a novel family X DNA polymerase that has been suggested to play a role in meiotic recombination and DNA repair. The recent demonstration of an intrinsic 5′-deoxyribose-5-phosphate lyase activity in pol A supports a function of this enzyme in base excision repair. However, the biochemical properties of the polymerization activity of this enzyme are still largely unknown. We have cloned and purified human pol A to homogeneity in a soluble and active form, and we present here a biochemical description of its polymerization features. In support of a role in DNA repair, pol λ inserts nucleotides in a DNA template-dependent manner and is processive in small gaps containing a 5′-phosphate group. These properties, together with its nucleotide insertion fidelity parameters and lack of proofreading activity, indicate that pol A is a novel β-like DNA polymerase. However, the high affinity of pol λ for dNTPs (37-fold over pol β) is consistent with its possible involvement in DNA transactions occurring under low cellular levels of dNTPs. This suggests that, despite their similarities, pol β and pol λ have nonredundant in vivo function

Decreased nitric oxide products in the urine of patients undergoing cardiac surgery

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Relationship between arginase activity and the storage time of packed red blood cells

[EN]: [Objectives]: Given the increasing evidence regarding a relationship between packed red blood cells storage time and post-transfusion complications, we decided to determine the relationship between the arginase enzyme levels, biochemical parameters and haemolysis, with the storage time of transfused packed red blood cells. [Material and methods]: We designed a prospective study that included 24 units of packed cells that had been consecutively transfused to patients of our hospital. After recording the storage time of each bag, 15 ml of blood was removed to determine arginase activity, biochemical parameters and haemolysis. A univariate analysis was performed on all the recorded parameters, and included those that were significant in the multiple regression model (P<.05). [Results]: The mean storage time was 18.6±6.1 days (range: 6-31 days), with a haematocrit of 59.8%±0.05%, a haemoglobin of 20.3±1.8 g/dl, a pH of 6.5±0.1, and an arginase activity of 140.1±124.0 mU/ml. A linear relationship was observed in the univariate analysis between the storage time and the pH (P=.001), the actualHCO3 (P=.001), the haemolysis index (P=.035) and the SpO2 (P=.01). Once adjusted for the confounding variables of the univariate model, a linear relationship was observed between the arginase activity and the storage time (P=.031). [Conclusions]: Our study shows a directly proportional linear relationship between the storage time of packed red blood cells and their arginase activity. We suggest that these findings could be associated with the high incidence of complications after transfusion that may be directly proportional to their storage time.[ES]: [Objetivos]: Dada la creciente evidencia a favor de una relación entre el tiempo de conservación de los concentrados de hematíes y las complicaciones postransfusionales, nos planteamos analizar la relación existente entre los niveles de enzima arginasa, parámetros bioquímicos y de hemólisis, con el tiempo de conservación de concentrados de hematíes transfundidos. [Material y métodos]: Diseñamos un estudio prospectivo que incluyó 24 unidades de concentrado de hematíes, que habían sido transfundidos consecutivamente a pacientes de nuestro hospital. Luego de registrar el tiempo de conservación de cada bolsa, se extrajeron 15 ml de sangre para determinar la actividad arginasa, los datos bioquímicos y de hemólisis. Se realizó un análisis univariante de todos los parámetros registrados y se incluyeron aquellos que resultaron significativos en un modelo de regresión múltiple (p < 0,05). [Resultados]: El tiempo promedio de conservación fue de 18,6 ± 6,1 días (rango: 6-31 días), con un hematocrito de 59,8% ± 0,05%, una hemoglobina 20,3 ± 1,8 g/dl, un pH de 6,5 ± 0,1 y una actividad arginasa de 140,1 ± 124,0 mU/ml. Se observó una relación lineal en el análisis univariante entre el tiempo de conservación y el pH (p = 0,001), el HCO3act (p = 0,001), el índice hemolítico (p = 0,035) y la SpO2 (p = 0,01). Una vez ajustados las variables de confusión procedentes del modelo univariante, se observó una relación lineal entre la actividad arginasa y el tiempo de conservación (p = 0,031). [Conclusiones]: Nuestro trabajo muestra una relación lineal directamente proporcional entre el tiempo de conservación de los concentrados de hematíes y la actividad arginasa presente en los mismos. Sugerimos que estos hallazgos podrían estar relacionados con la elevada incidencia de complicaciones tras la transfusión que puede ser directamente proporcional a su tiempo de conservación.Peer Reviewe