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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #376249

Research Project: Nutrition, Immune and Inflammatory Responses, and Related Diseases

Location: Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging

Title: Development and validation of a fecal extraction procedure for the assessment of multiple fecal biomarkers of intestinal inflammation

Author
item LEWIS, ERIN - Tufts University
item GUO, WEIMIN - Tufts University
item LI, LIJUN - Tufts University
item WU, DAYONG - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item COMBS, GERALD - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item MEYDANI, SIMIN - Tufts University

Submitted to: Current Developments in Nutrition
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/23/2019
Publication Date: 6/13/2019
Citation: Lewis, E., Guo, W., Li, L., Wu, D., Combs, G.F., Meydani, S.N. 2019. Development and validation of a fecal extraction procedure for the assessment of multiple fecal biomarkers of intestinal inflammation. Current Developments in Nutrition. 3(Suppl_1). Abstract No. P13-025-19. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzz036.P13-025-19.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzz036.P13-025-19

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Fecal biomarkers have emerged as an important tool to assess intestinal inflammation and permeability. Commonly measured biomarkers include calprotectin (CP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) and neopterin (NEO). We sought to develop a simple, fast and cost-effective single extraction procedure for use in determining all four biomarkers of interest. The applicability and sensitivity of this procedure for use in healthy adults was examined. METHODS: Sample extraction buffers and methods including sample weight, dilution, homogenization and centrifugation were all considered in the development of a single extraction procedure. An extraction buffer that included phosphate-buffered saline, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, bovine serum albumin and Tween 20 was used to extract fecal samples. To assess the applicability and sensitivity of the single extraction procedure, concentrations of CP, MPO, AAT and NEO were measured using commercially available sandwich ELISA kits, according to manufacturer's instructions. RESULTS: CP, MPO and AAT concentrations were measured in fecal samples of healthy adults (aged 50-80 years, n=85) and found to be comparable to findings of previously published studies in healthy populations. Mean concentrations of CP and AAT were 3.6 plus or minus 3.8 micro/g of wet weight (range 0.14 - 18.0 micro/g) and 2.3 plus or minus 0.73 micro/g (range 0.76 - 5.2 micro/g), respectively. Mean fecal MPO concentrations were 135 plus or minus 24 micro/g (range 3 - 1290 ng/g). NEO concentrations were examined in a subset of healthy adults (n equals 10), with mean concentrations of 18 plus or minus 1 ng/g (range 17 - 20 ng/g). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the efficacy of a single extraction procedure used to assess multiple fecal biomarkers of intestinal inflammation. This simple, fast and inexpensive extraction method will facilitate the determination of multiple fecal biomarkers which is critical in validating their use as clinical or predictive biomarkers of intestinal inflammation. FUNDING SOURCES: Supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (ARS), under Agreement No. 58-1950-4-003, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Canadian Institutes of Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship.