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Acute phase proteins serum concentrations in children are related to urinary iodine excretion

S A Lialikau1, L L Haurylik, M Sobieska

  • 1State Medical University, Grodno, Belarus.

Roczniki Akademii Medycznej W Bialymstoku (1995)
|December 20, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Low iodine levels in children are linked to changes in acute phase proteins (APP) and their glycosylation, suggesting a direct regulatory response rather than a thyroid hormone effect. This may indicate a hidden iodine deficiency triggering an acute phase reaction to enhance iodine uptake.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Iodine is crucial for thyroid hormone synthesis, essential for growth and development.
  • Acute phase proteins (APPs) are involved in the body's response to inflammation and infection.
  • Altered glycosylation of APPs can reflect changes in metabolic and inflammatory states.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between iodine status and serum concentrations of selected acute phase proteins (APPs) in children.
  • To analyze the glycosylation profiles of APPs in relation to iodine levels.
  • To explore potential direct effects of iodine on APP regulation independent of thyroid hormones.

Main Methods:

  • 116 children were assessed for urinary iodine levels, categorizing them into low (<100 µg/L) and adequate (>100 µg/L) groups.
  • Serum concentrations of various proteins, including APPs (e.g., AGP, ACT, Tf), were measured using radioimmunoassay and rocket immunoelectrophoresis.
  • Glycosylation patterns of specific APPs were analyzed using affinity immunoelectrophoresis with Concanavalin A (ConA).

Main Results:

  • Serum concentrations of most investigated proteins, particularly alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), were significantly dependent on iodine levels.
  • Children with low iodine levels exhibited altered AGP glycosylation, characterized by decreased non-reactive variants (W0) and increased reactive variants (W1, W2), leading to a higher AGP-reactivity coefficient (AGP-RC).
  • Similar glycosylation changes were observed for alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT), while C-reactive protein (CRP) remained within normal limits and no protein levels correlated with thyroid hormone concentrations.

Conclusions:

  • Iodine status appears to directly influence APP concentrations and their glycosylation profiles in children, independent of thyroid hormones.
  • Low urinary iodine excretion may signal a hidden iodine deficiency, potentially initiating an acute phase reaction to enhance iodine uptake and storage.
  • These findings suggest a novel regulatory mechanism linking iodine status to acute phase protein dynamics in pediatric populations.
Abstract

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