Muramic acid in human peripheral blood leucocytes in different age groups.

Abstract

Presence of muramic acid (as a marker for bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan) was analysed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry in the peripheral blood leucocytes of subjects from a range of ages (9-80 years) and groups (healthy individuals, patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthrosis, essential hypertension or multiple sclerosis). Sixty per cent of the sample from the youngest subjects contained detectable muramic acid. The percentage of people with circulating leucocytes containing muramic acid decreased gradually with age, being less than 5% in all groups over 40 years. No clear correlation between the presence of muramic acid and the disease was observed.

• Authors: L Lehtonen, E Eerola, P Toivanen
• Journal: European journal of clinical investigation (Eur J Clin Invest) Vol. 27 Issue 9 Pg. 791-2 (Sep 1997) ISSN: 0014-2972 [Print] England
• PMID: 9352253 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Muramic Acids
• Peptidoglycan

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Aging (blood)
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (blood)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Child
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
• Humans
• Hypertension (blood)
• Leukocytes (chemistry)
• Middle Aged
• Muramic Acids (blood)
• Osteoarthritis (blood)
• Peptidoglycan (blood)