"Improving the quality of infusion solutions by accounting for posttranslational modification of proteins could lead to better clinical outcomes for patients, such as those treated solutions containing albumin," said Angelika Bierhaus, senior scientist and co-study author from the University of Heidelberg in Germany.
To make their discovery, Bierhaus and colleagues detected advanced glycation end products in several currently available albumin infusion solutions and injected separate groups of mice with solutions containing both high and low amounts of this substance. The mice receiving the high levels of advanced glycation end products experienced significantly higher inflammation and death rates than the mice receiving solutions with low levels of advanced glycation end products. This suggests that screening infusion solutions for posttranslational protein modifications and then removing the compounds may improve patient outcomes, especially treatments requiring albumin infusions.
"It is always difficult to learn that what was once thought safe might have more risk than previously appreciated, especially when it relates to treatments meant to save lives," said John Wherry, Ph.D., Deputy Editor of the
Journal of Leukocyte Biology. "This discovery, however, should allow manufacturers to improve the quality, tolerability and safety of a number of clinical products."
Source: Eurekalert
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