[Procalcitonin--a marker of systemic infection and multiorgan dysfunction: characteristics of the gene and protein]

Cesk Fysiol. 2001 Aug;50(3):119-24.
[Article in Czech]

Abstract

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a protein consisting of 116 aminoacids with molecular weight 13 kDa. It is encoded by CALC-1 gene. According to the basic and clinical research results PCT appears to be a highly sensitive and specific marker reflecting severity of the systemic inflammatory response to infectious stimuli. Despite the investigation focused on CALC-1 gene, little is known about the biology of PCT and cellular sources of PCT during inflammation. One of the possible sources may be human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. PCT is an indicator of bacterial infections minimally stimulated by viral infections, autoimmune diseases and tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Calcitonin / chemistry*
  • Calcitonin / genetics
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
  • Humans
  • Infections / diagnosis*
  • Infections / metabolism
  • Multiple Organ Failure / diagnosis*
  • Protein Precursors / chemistry*
  • Protein Precursors / genetics
  • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • CALCA protein, human
  • Protein Precursors
  • Calcitonin
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide