Our aim was to investigate whether serum neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin have any value in the distinction between Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) and pneumonia due to extracellular bacteria. Also, to study whether neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin would correlate with the clinical course of lung infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative patients. Thirt...

Thirteen newborn infants, 8 term and 5 preterm (gestational age 31 to 36 weeks), were treated for between 3 and 7 days with gentamicin and ampicillin or cloxacillin because of suspected bacterial infection. The dosage of gentamicin was carefully monitored by serum concentration assays. Urinary alanine aminopeptidase, urinary beta 2-microglobulin, serum urea, and serum beta 2-microglobulin were ...

beta 2 Microglobulin concentration in tear fluid was measured in 35 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), in 28 normal control subjects matched for age and sex, and in 18 patients with arthralgias or myalgias and sicca complaints, in whom the diagnosis primary SS had been excluded. Increased beta 2 microglobulin concentrations were found in the patients with SS, but no correlation was ...

11,000-Dalton common portion fragments derived from HL-A antigen molecules were isolated and found to have a significantly high homology to beta(2)-microglobulin in amino-acid composition. Common portion fragments are also very similar to beta(2)-microglobulin with respect to molecular size, charge, and distribution in tissues. Moreover, both are found in the spent culture media of human cell l...

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are heterogeneous neurodevelopmental diseases of unknown etiology. There are no biological markers for ASD and current diagnosis is based on behavioral criteria. Recent data has shown that MHC I, a compound involved in adaptive immune function, is also involved in neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity and behavior. It has been suggested that altered MHC I express...

The protein β2-microglobulin can aggregate in insoluble amyloid fibrils. By relying on extensive sampling simulations, we study the Pro32 isomerization as a possible triggering factor leading to structural modifications β2-m.

This fully automated nephelometric immunoassay to quantify beta 2-microglobulin in human serum measures the light-scattering signal produced by agglutination of commercially available latex microparticles (diameter 0.1 micron) coated with specific F(ab')2 against beta 2-microglobulin. The calibration curve, generated by serial dilutions of a beta 2-microglobulin standard of known concentration,...

OBJECTIVES To determine the diagnostic value of beta 2 microglobulin in parotid saliva, its concentration in relation to salivary flow was determined in 29 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and in 30 normal controls. The specific secretion rate of beta 2 microglobulin was calculated. METHODS Parotid saliva samples were collected within a 20 minute period directly from Stensen's duct wi...

Crystals of the bovine milk protein lactollin yield x-ray diffraction data extending to a resolution of 2.8 A. Lactollin is a bovine analogue of #2-microglobulin, a protein that is homologous in amino acid sequence to the constant domains of immunoglobulins and is the light chain of the human and murine major histocompatability antigens. The protein crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group ...

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a leading cause of both community-acquired and nosocomial gram-negative bacterial pneumonia. A significant clinical complication of Klebsiella pulmonary infections is peripheral blood dissemination, resulting in a systemic infection concurrent with the localized pulmonary infection. We report here on the critical importance of 2-microglobulin expression during murine K....