Search PubMedSearch

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Hyperargininemia”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Guanidino compound analysis as a complementary diagnostic parameter for hyperargininemia: follow-up of guanidino compound levels during therapy.

The aim of this collaborative study was to investigate whether guanidino compound analyses in the biologic fluids can be used as a complementary diagnostic parameter for hyperargininemia. Guanidino compounds were determined in the biologic fluids of all known living hyperargininemic patients using a cation exchange chromatographic system with a fluorescence detection method. The serum arginine, homoarginine, alpha-keto-delta-guanidino-valeric acid, argininic acid, and N-alpha-acetylarginine levels of all the hyperargininemic patients are higher than the normal range. Similar increases were seen for the urinary excretion of alpha-keto-delta-guanidinovaleric acid and argininic acid. Untreated hyperargininemic patients have the highest guanidino compound levels in cerebrospinal fluid. However, even under therapy, the arginine, homoarginine, alpha-keto-delta-guanidinovaleric acid, and argininic acid levels in cerebrospinal fluid are still increased. Protein restriction alone is not sufficient to normalize the hyperargininemia, but protein restriction together with supplementation of essential amino acids with or without sodium benzoate decreases further the arginine levels. However, whereas the argininemia can be normalized, the catabolites of arginine are still increased. We conclude that the urinary amino acid levels may remain normal in hyperargininemia, whereas consistent increases of the guanidino compounds are observed. Thus, guanidino compound analyses can be used as a complementary biochemical diagnostic parameter for hyperargininemia. Although the argininemia can be normalized by therapy, the levels of the catabolites of arginine are still elevated.

Adolescent

Guanidino compounds in hyperargininemia.

Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations and urinary excretion of guanidino compounds were investigated in a patient with hyperargininemia during the treatment with low-protein diet, oral administration of an essential amino acid mixture and sodium benzoate, or enzyme replacement therapy such as exchange transfusion or erythrocyte transfusion. In the patient, alpha-keto-delta-guanidinovaleric acid (GVA), N-alpha-acetylarginine (NAA), argininic acid (ArgA) and homoarginine concentrations in plasma were elevated as well as arginine. Urinary excretion of GVA, ArgA, NAA and gamma-guanidinobutyric acid (GBA) were also increased. CSF concentrations of ArgA, homoarginine and arginine were also elevated. On the other hand, guanidinosuccinic acid (GSA), which is usually detected in all samples, was not detected in plasma, CSF and urine of the patient. The present results suggest that in patients with hyperargininemia other factors such as arginine and its metabolites including GVA, GAA, ArgA and homoarginine may cause the neurological symptoms. Furthermore, it is suggested that in patients with hyperargininemia, arginine may be catabolized via other pathways and nitrogen may be excreted partially in urine in the form of some of guanidino compounds.

Arginase

Hyperargininemia: the rat as a model for the human disease and the comparative response to enzyme replacement therapy with free arginase and arginase-loaded erythrocytes in vivo.

Rat erythrocytes lack arginase as do the erythrocytes of human homozygote patients with hyperargininemia due to arginase deficiency. The rat has physiological liver arginase activity and plasma arginine and ornithine levels between the homozygotes and the heterozygotes with hyperargininemia. In rats, one injection of free arginase induces a transient exogenous arginase effect which is abolished after 24 hr. One injection of isoionic arginase-loaded erythrocytes provokes an exogenous arginase effect in physiological "hyperargininemic" rats and pathological "hyperargininemic"-made rats for at least 8 and 5 days respectively. The very transient response in vivo to exogenous free arginase can be considerably prolonged by entrapment of the arginase in isoionic prepared erythrocytes.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors

A simple screening test for arginase deficiency (hyperargininemia).

A simple fluorescent spot screening test has been developed for the identification of individuals with arginase deficiency (hyperargininemia). The assay is based on the coversion of arginine to ornithine and urea by arginase present in 1/8 inch disc of dried blood on filter paper. The enzyme activity is visually estimated by the oxidation of NAD-H to NAD+ in a coupled kinetic reaction. In the absence of the enzyme, there is no oxidation of the NAD-H and consequently no loss of fluorescence. The screening assay has been used to identify successfully both heterozygous and homozygous arginase-deficient crabeater macaques (M. fascicularis) as well as three patients with hyperargininemia. This test can be used to screen large numbers of patients with mental retardation or seizure disorders rapidly to determine the frequency of this disorder more precisely.

Animals

Human hyperargininemia: a mutation not expressed in skin fibroblasts?

Arginase specific activity in the fibroblasts from three hyperargininemia patients is similar to that in controls. Kinetic features, pH-optimum, effect of Mn++, apparent Km values and DEAE- and CM-cellulose chromatography isozymes are identical in either cell type. The arginase gene functional in fibroblasts may be unrelated to the cause of hyperargininemia in humans. The latter mutation may solely affect the arginase of erythrocytes.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors

Measurement of arginine transport in human erythrocytes using their intrinsic arginase activity: implications for the treatment of familial hyperargininemia.

A procedure making use of the intracellular arginase activity has been developed for measuring the transport of arginine across the human erythrocyte membrane. (1) The arginine translocation is carrier mediated with simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics, showing one high affinity, low capacity transport system characterized by a half saturation constant KT of 0.177 +/- 0.036 mmol/1, and a maximum velocity VT of 0.332 +/- 0.068 mumol X h-1 X ml-1 cells. (2) Competition experiments with lysine, ornithine and leucine indicated that the arginine transport system in specific for dibasic amino acids. (3) The value calculated for the intracellular arginine concentration agreed well with the values obtained by independent methods. (4) The low arginine transport rate of human erythrocytes can explain the failure to lower the hyperargininemia in familial hyperargininemia by blood transfusion with normal arginase-containing erythrocytes.

Arginase

Guanidino compounds that are increased in hyperargininemia inhibit GABA and glycine responses on mouse neurons in cell culture.

The effects of arginine, homoarginine, alpha-keto-delta-guanidinovaleric acid and argininic acid (guanidino compounds that were found to be increased in hyperargininemia) were evaluated on responses to gamma-aminoburtyric acid (GABA) and glycine (Gly) on mouse neurons in primary dissociated cell culture. GABA and Gly were applied iontophoretically and intracellular microelectrode recording techniques were used. The guanidino compounds rapidly and reversibly inhibited both GABA and Gly responses. The guanidino compounds inhibited GABA responses in a concentration-dependent manner and inhibited Gly responses at a concentration of 10 mM. Argininic acid was the most potent in reducing inhibitory amino acid responses, followed in decreasing potency by alpha-keto-delta-guanidinovaleric acid, homoarginine and arginine. The guanidino compounds were equally potent in decreasing Gly and GABA responses. Co-application of CGS 9896, a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, did not antagonize the guanidino compound-induced inhibition of GABA responses. These findings suggest that the guanidino compounds inhibited responses to the inhibitory neurotransmitters GABA and Gly by blocking the chloride channel. This effect might underlie the in vivo epileptogenicity of some of the guanidino compounds and might contribute to the pathogenesis of seizures in hyperargininemia.

Animals

Absence of erythrocyte arginase protein in Japanese patients with hyperargininemia.

In Japan, hyperargininemia has been reported in only 5 unrelated families and four patients are alive at present. In this study we examined arginase protein in erythrocytes of these Japanese patients using two analytical methods of immunoblotting and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Immunoblotting study with anti-E. coli-expressed human liver arginase rabbit IgG revealed lack of cross-reacting materials in the erythrocyte lysates from these patients. On two-dimensional gels, arginase protein was detected in any control subject, but it was completely absent in all the patients studied. These results suggest that either arginase protein in erythrocytes is not produced or it is structurally labile in these patients.

Adult

Isoenzyme pattern and immunological properties of arginase in normal and hyperargininemia fibroblasts.

Arginase deficiency is an inborn error of the last step in the urea cycle and leads to profound hyperargininemia. The enzyme deficiency has been demonstrated in the liver and red blood cells. In cultured patient fibroblasts, the activity is normal. Arginase exists in multiple molecular forms only one of which is missing in hyperargininemic patients. In fibroblasts, three arginase isoenzymes can be demonstrated by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, two by electrophoresis and by immunoprecipitation methods. From the present data, it is improbable that part of the A1 isoenzyme in fibroblasts originates from fetal calf serum arginase which supplements the culture media. None of the techniques for the separation and analyses of arginase isoenzyme allows to differentiate between the normal and the arginase-deficient phenotype. A possible explanation would be that the defect in A1 arginase observed in the liver is the result of a regulatory defect.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors

Enzyme replacement therapy in a patient with hyperargininemia.

In a patient with hyperargininemia, enzyme replacement therapy such as whole blood exchange transfusion or erythrocyte transfusion was performed, and its effect was confirmed in vitro as well as in vivo. The patient has been treated with the restriction of protein intake, oral administration of an essential amino acid mixture, and sodium benzoate or phenylacetic acid. With these treatments, his plasma ammonia levels were controlled. On the other hand, plasma and CSF concentrations of arginine were not so well controlled. With whole blood exchange transfusion and erythrocyte transfusion, plasma arginine concentrations and plasma ammonia levels were controlled. These effects have continued for about 3 months. Furthermore, the effect of exchanged erythrocytes on the blood arginine levels was also confirmed by in vitro experimentation that mixes arginine with erythrocytes in the medium RPMI 1640. Arginine concentration of the medium did not decrease when arginine was mixed with erythrocytes of the patient, but when arginine was mixed with erythrocytes of mother or normal controls, it decreased rapidly. In calculation, 10(7) of erythrocytes of the mother or normal controls was presumed to metabolize 4-5 nmole of arginine per day. From these results, the erythrocyte exchange transfusion is considered to be effective for the control of clinical and biochemical abnormalities in this disorder.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors

Use of enzyme-loaded erythrocytes in in-vitro correction of arginase-deficient erythrocytes in familial hyperargininemia.

The capacity of arginase-deficient erythrocytes of patients with familial hyperargininemia to produce urea and to catabolize arginine can be increased in vitro by introducing human liver arginase into their erythrocytes. The results of this study on a specific human model show that it is possible to change the metabolic function of a genetically defective erythrocyte by incorporating exogenous human enzyme. The in vivo application of enzyme-loaded erythrocytes for enzyme replacement therapy of inborn metabolic errors in humans must await in vivo studies on animal models.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors

Hyperargininemia, epilepsy and the metabolism of guanidino compounds.

Patients with hyperargininemia have an arginase deficiency which leads to blockade of the urea cycle in the last step with several clinical symptoms. Owing to the arginase deficiency this patients accumulate arginine which leads to eventual alternative yet unknown pathways of arginine metabolism. These clinical and biochemical findings intensified the research on guanidino compounds. It has been shown that most of the guanidino compounds are epileptogenic. Therefore we investigated the levels of 12 guanidino compounds in serum and brain of audiogenic sensitive rats. The changes of some guanidino compounds in serum and brain will be discussed.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors

Hyperargininemia: clinical course and treatment with sodium benzoate and phenylacetic acid.

In a patient with hyperargininemia, oral administration of sodium benzoate or phenylacetic acid together with an essential amino acid mixture was used to prevent hyperammonemia and to decrease plasma and CSF concentrations of arginine. Sodium benzoate reduced the plasma ammonia levels, which was confirmed by the increase of urinary excretion of hippuric acid. Phenylacetic acid also controlled hyperammonemia, and EEG findings also improved. By these treatments, plasma and CSF concentrations of arginine showed a slight decrease, but were far above the normal range. There was no clinical improvement, and spasticity of the lower and upper extremities was progressive with mental deterioration.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors

Arginase and free amino acids in hyperargininemia: leukocyte arginine as a diagnostic parameter for heterozygotes.

Arginase activity and free amino acids were measured in plasma, erythrocytes and leukocytes of patients with hyperargininemia and in controls. There is no arginase activity in the leukocytes and erythrocytes of homozygous patients; in heterozygotes it is normal to low. The activity is 50 to 100 times higher in leukocytes than in erythrocytes. In controls as well as in patients and heterozygotes, the amino acid concentrations are higher in leukocytes than in plasma and erythrocytes. In addition to the increased arginine in the three blood compartments (the result of an arginase deficiency), there is also an obvious decrease of aspartic acid in the erythrocytes of the patients. The arginine concentration in leukocytes of heterozygotes is as high as in homozygotes and can therefore be used as a diagnostic parameter for heterozygotes.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors

Ammonia metabolism in a family affected by hyperargininemia.

A French-Canadian family, with a 14-year old mentally retarded girl, was investigated for hyperargininemia. The girl showed a fasting plasma ammonia N concentration of 100 micrograms/dl (normal : 50.5 +/- 13 micrograms/dl), and a two-hour post protein load level of 183 micrograms/dl (normal : 51.6 +/- 17.6 micrograms/dl). Plasma urea N was lower than normal in the post-load sample. Arginine concentrations were 11 times normal in the plasma, 47 times normal in the urine and 4 times normal in erythrocytes. Measurement of erythrocyte arginase showed only 1% activity in the propositus, and 52-54% in the parents and a sibling as compared to controls. In heterozygous members of the family, the Km (arginine) was similar to controls. Column chromatography of serum amino acids in the propositus showed arginine to be 17.6 S.D. higher than the normal mean. A characteristic cystine-lysinuria pattern of urinary amino acids was also seen. Measurement of other urinary nitrogenous metabolites showed low urinary urea and excessive orotic aciduria. On "normal" food intake, the patient excreted 122 mg of orotic acid/24 h, as against 3.7 mg by the sibling and 3.9 mg by the mother. It is postulated that the level of ornithine in hepatocyte mitochondria is critical to the disposal of carbamyl phosphate. The lack of normal regeneration of ornithine by liver arginase, and an excessive urinary excretion may be responsible for its low mitochondrial concentration. This would cause diversion of unmetabolised carbamyl phosphate towards orotic acid synthesis or ammonia production.

Adolescent