Serologic diagnosis of Hantaan virus infection based on a peptide antigen.

authors of several studies have observed increased intraalveolar cytokine production (19) or increased CD4ϩ T lymphocytes in smokers (20). A suppressive effect of tobacco smoke on the human immune system has also been reported (21), which could explain the lower neop-terin production of smokers in our study. We noted a correlation between neopterin concentrations and diastolic blood pressure values. Although an explanation for this correlation is not immediately evident , the possibility of a connection between immunoac-tivation and increased diastolic pressure cannot be excluded definitively. Recently, a correlation was reported between ischemic attack and both neopterin and the potent endothelial-derived, vasoconstrictive peptide en-dothelin-1 (22). Conditions such as atherosclerosis (16) or infections by Helicobacter pylori (23), which are associated with immune activation and higher neopterin production, might possibly lead to vasoconstriction and thereby increased diastolic blood pressure because of increased endothelin-1 production. The positive correlation that was found between neop-terin concentrations and BMI, a correlation that was not an independent one, supports results of an earlier study in individuals with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (13), and it would be in line with earlier suggestions that long-lasting immune activation, even if only moderate, may contribute to the development of obesity (24). Nevertheless, our study of blood donors indicates that neopterin concentrations are associated with age, smoking status, diastolic blood pressure, and BMI, although the reasons for these associations are still unclear. The inter-individual variation of neopterin concentrations among healthy individuals may, in part, be attributable to variations caused by these variables rather than analytical variation of the assay used. Immune response-associated production of neopterin. Release from macro-phages primarily under control of interferon gamma. The role of neopterin as a monitor of cellular immune activation in transplantation, inflammatory, infectious and malignant diseases. The prognostic value of cellular and prognostic markers in infections with human immunodeficiency virus type I infection. et al. Neopterin as a marker for activated cell-mediated immunity: application in malignant disease. Neopterin is an independent prognostic variable in females with breast cancer. et al. Posttransplant neopterin excretion in renal allograft recipients: reliable diagnostic aid of acute rejection and predictive marker of long-term survival. al. Approach to define " normal aging " in man. Immune function, serum lipids, lipoproteins and neopterin levels. et al. Factors influencing serum neopterin and ␤2-microglobulin levels in healthy diverse population. Serum neopterin levels and the angiographic extent of coronary arterial narrowing in unstable angina pectoris and in non-Q-wave …