Open AccessNeopterin as a diagnostic biomarker for diagnosis of inflammatory diseases like periodontitis
Author(s) -
Jammula Surya Prasanna,
Chinta Sumadhura,
Pediredla Karunakar
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of oral research and review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2394-2541
pISSN - 2249-4987
DOI - 10.4103/2249-4987.201406
Subject(s) - neopterin , immune system , immunology , inflammation , medicine , macrophage , cytokine , periodontitis , biomarker , biology , biochemistry , in vitro
Neopterin is a catabolic product of guanosine triphosphate, a purine nucleotide and belongs to the group pteridines. When the cytokine interferon gamma stimulates the human macrophages, they synthesize the neopterin. It is an indicative of a pro-inflammatory immune status and hence serves as a cellular immune system marker. In most of the diseases, in which the cellular immune system is involved, we find that the neopterin concentrations are usually high. In the periodontal diseases, the levels of neopterin usually fluctuate which is proved by its increase in disease progression and a decrease after treatment. Periodontal diseases are characterized by enhanced macrophage infiltration to the periodontal lesion, so neopterin being a macrophage activation marker may be seen in higher levels. This review deals with neopterin and its mechanism and its use as a marker in the diagnosis of the periodontal diseases