Immunology

Neopterin

Neopterin is a low molecular weight molecule belonging to the chemical group known as pteridines. It plays a major role in the adaptive, cell mediated immune response. It is synthesised by cellular immune reaction of macrophages and dendritic cells upon stimulation with the cytokine interferon-beta and as a consequence released. Neopterin has a higher stability in body fluids which makes the sample handling and measurement easier compared to other cytokines.

The low molecular weight, let neopterin molecules rapidly pass the intravasal area, where it is released into urine after glomerular filtration. The half-life period in human bodies is only affected by renal excretion. So neopterin values reflect the totality of immunological processes for monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells and can be seen as a general marker of immune activity.

HMGB1

The multi-tasker of the innate immune system!

Over years, HMGB1 has increasingly attracted the attention of all kinds of researchers. It is one of the most intriguing molecules within the complete arsenal of proteins of the innate immune system as HMGB1 is either actively secreted by immune cells, or passively by injured cells as the cell’s immediate cry for help. An automate friendly version will be launched by October 2019.

HMGB1 is a nuclear protein that can bind and bend DNA, but it can also be released to the extracellular environment where it exerts additional functions.