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Serum and salivary proteins in dysmature infants
S Szabó1, A Száva Szabó, V Nagy
1Institute of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Physiology, Tîrgu-Mureş, Romania.
Insights
Dysmature infants show lower serum protein levels and reduced local salivary protein synthesis. This may stem from tissue immaturity and increased permeability, linked to intrauterine malnutrition.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Dysmature infants, small-for-dates, exhibit altered physiological development.
- Plasma protein concentrations and local protein synthesis are crucial indicators of infant health.
- Intrauterine malnutrition can impact long-term infant health and development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare serum and salivary protein concentrations between dysmature and healthy infants.
- To assess local protein synthesis in salivary glands of both infant groups.
- To investigate the relationship between intrauterine malnutrition and protein metabolism in infants.
Main Methods:
- Radial immunodiffusion was used to quantify immunoglobulins and plasma proteins in serum and saliva.
- A modified formula was employed to estimate local salivary protein synthesis.
- Comparison was made between 16 dysmature and 16 eutrophic healthy infants.
Main Results:
- Dysmature infants had significantly lower serum levels of IgG, IgA, albumin, transferrin, ceruloplasmin, and beta-lipoprotein.
- Salivary albumin and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein concentrations were higher in dysmature infants.
- Local synthesis of several proteins was diminished in dysmature infants, with increased transudation.
Conclusions:
- Lower serum protein levels in dysmature infants may indicate tissue immaturity affecting protein production.
- Increased salivary protein transudation suggests heightened tissue permeability in dysmature infants.
- These findings highlight the lasting effects of intrauterine malnutrition on infant protein metabolism and immune function.
Abstract:
Concentrations of immunoglobulins and other plasma proteins were determined by radial immunodiffusion in the blood sera and saliva of 16 dysmature (small-for-dates) and of 16 eutrophic healthy infants with an average age of 4.8 and 4.7 months, respectively. The local synthesis of salivary proteins was calculated with a formula used by Deuschl and Johansson for the estimation of local synthesis of bronchial immunoglobulins. The formula was completed by a correction factor established by the authors, based on their previous investigations. Dysmature children had a significantly lower serum IgG, IgA, albumin, transferrin, coeruloplasmin and beta-lipoprotein level. In the dysmature infants the salivary albumin and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein concentration was higher than in the normal controls. A local synthesis of IgA, IgG, transferrin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, alpha 1-antitrypsin and haptoglobin was observed in both groups, but the production of these proteins was slightly diminished, while their transudation was more important in the dysmature subjects. The lower level of serum proteins, as well as the lower local synthesis in the salivary glands may be due to the immaturity of the tissues that produce these proteins. The increase of the protein transudation is attributed to a rise of the tissue permeability in the dysmature children which is a late consequence of intrauterine malnutrition.