We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Mast Cell Biomarker Predicts Severity of Dengue

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 13 May 2013
A protein produced by mast cells in the immune system may predict which people infected with dengue virus will develop life-threatening complications.

Dengue virus (DENV) spread by mosquitoes, infects as many as 390 million people worldwide each year, and is a significant health issue in tropical areas of the world including parts of Latin America and Asia, and health professionals in Florida have reported cases in recent years. More...


Scientists at Duke University (Durham, NC, USA) working with their colleagues at Duke-National University of Singapore investigated the role of mast cells in attacking dengue virus in humans, and identified a biomarker derived from the mast cells, that appeared to predict the most severe cases of the disease in human patients.

Samples used for the investigation were derived from patients that ranged in age from 18 to 77 years, with a mean of 40 years; 42% of samples were obtained from females, and 58% from males. Dengue positive samples were determined based on physician diagnosis as well as molecular tests including reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for viral ribonucleic acid (RNA).

The dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) patient sera used in this study were previously determined to be positive for serotypes 1, 2, or 3 by RT-PCR using the OneStep RT-PCR Kit (Qiagen; Valencia, CA, USA). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits for the human mast cell biomarker chymase, a serine protease, were obtained from Antibodies-Online (Atlanta, GA, USA).

Patients that were diagnosed with DF or DHF showed chymase levels in serum obtained during the acute phase of infection were significantly higher than levels in the serum of either healthy controls or individuals with fever that were DENV negative by RT-PCR. DF patients displayed an increase in serum chymase that was approximately 10 times higher than in healthy individuals or DENV-negative patients while, in DHF patients, chymase levels 30 times higher than healthy controls were detected.

Soman N. Abraham, PhD, a professor at Duke University and the senior author of the study, said,” In addition to revealing a potential new way to diagnose and treat dengue infections, these finding may have much broader applicability for other infectious diseases where vascular leakage is a major pathologic outcome.” The study was published on April 30, 2013, in the journal eLife.

Related Links:
Duke University
Duke-National University of Singapore
Antibodies-Online



Gold Member
Flocked Fiber Swabs
Puritan® Patented HydraFlock®
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Autoimmune Disease Diagnostic
Chorus ds-DNA-G
New
Celiac Disease Test
Anti-Gliadin IgG ELISA
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








DIASOURCE (A Biovendor Company)

Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: A simple blood test could replace surgical biopsies for early detecion of heart transplant rejection (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients

Following a heart transplant, patients are required to undergo surgical biopsies so that physicians can assess the possibility of organ rejection. Rejection happens when the recipient’s immune system identifies... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: Pancreatic cancer diagnosis (Photo courtesy of World Journal of Gastroenterology)

AI-Driven Preliminary Testing for Pancreatic Cancer Enhances Prognosis

Pancreatic cancer poses a major global health threat due to its high mortality rate, with 467,409 deaths and 510,992 new cases reported worldwide in 2022. Often referred to as the "king" of all cancers,... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.