Phospholipase A2 Activity Test – Urine

Phospholipase A2 Activity Test – Urine

  • $234.00

  • Ex Tax:$234.00
  - OR -  


NOTE : 


1) TEST KITS WILL BE SHIPPED BY MATRITOUCH.COM


2) SAMPLES WILL BE PICKED UP BY FEDEX AND DIRECTLY DELIVERED TO THE GREAT PLAINS LABORATORY IN USA. 


3) THE REPORTS WILL BE SENT BY EMAIL ONLY & NOTIFICATION WILL BE GIVEN OVER PHONE. 


4) PLEASE ALSO READ THE FAQ's FOR TESTS 


 

GENERAL

The Great Plains Laboratory, Inc. is excited about our recently developed phospholipase A2 (PLA2) test that measures the activity of PLA2 in urine. We are the only commercial lab currently offering PLA2 level measurement as a urine test. PLA2 is elevated in a wide range of inflammation-related disorders and is considered a good marker for increased risk of developing or worsening of inflammatory conditions. PLA2 levels can easily be sampled along with the organic acid test (full or microbial), offering a powerful new combination of clinical insights.

Bee stings and venomous snake bites cause immediate inflammation, resulting in pain and swelling. The enzyme in venom that triggers this immune response is phospholipase A2. This enzyme is also present in human tissue. During infection, PLA2 activates a cascade that results in the destruction of the cell membranes of invading microbes. The products of the PLA2 reaction responsible for eliminating these organisms, lysolecithins and free fatty acids, are powerful detergents that damage cell membranes, denature proteins, and disrupt their function. However, this killing mechanism comes at a cost to the human host. Lysolecithin products are involved in the pain response and cause hemolysis of erythrocytes. The most common free fatty acid produced by PLA2is arachidonic acid, which can increase the production of powerful mediators of inflammation: prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes, collectively called eicosanoids. Release of these mediators initiates the pain, swelling, and other unpleasant symptoms we experience as part of an inflammatory response.

Excess PLA2 not only causes local damage, but can be transported by the blood vessels to other parts of the body, causing widespread tissue damage. Normal amounts of PLA2 are involved in remodeling cell membranes and changing cell architecture, but sustained release of PLA2 and the resulting inflammation is implicated in the development of chronic conditions including multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, allergies, and neuropsychiatric disorders.

WHAT CAUSES ELEVATED PLA2?

A large dose of PLA2 is delivered in venom from snakes, spiders, and bees (experienced as pain and stinging) and is responsible for much of the toxicity of these venoms. Microorganisms such as Candida albicans and certain Clostridia species produce PLA2, which increases the ability of the microorganism to infect the host. This same enzyme is produced in the body as a response to invading microorganisms and foreign proteins such as allergens, particularly house dust and cats. Physical trauma may also cause significant increases in PLA2, contributing to tissue damage and brain injury.

Phospholipase A2 is in fact a family of enzymes that are categorized by location and function. They have strong antibacterial and antiviral properties as part of the innate immune system, but also participate in many other biochemical processes that include cell signaling, cell proliferation and differentiation, cell migration and apoptosis, and modulation of inflammatory response. PLA2 is not only released in tissues and cells of the immune system, it is also produced by the pancreas and released into the small intestine following a fatty meal, to assist in the digestion and absorption of phospholipids. Additionally, PLA2 is expressed in neuronal tissue and is involved in the degranulation process that releases neurotransmitters from neurons. Research efforts have focused on the role that derangement of normal PLA2 activity plays in the etiology of many chronic illnesses. The specific roles, interactions, and interdependencies of PLA2 have been a major area of interest as it relates to chronic inflammatory conditions, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

PLA2 AND INFLAMMATORY DISEASE

Research has implicated PLA2 in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Multiple sclerosis involves both antigen-specific mechanisms and components of the innate immune system that result in inflammatory response. Elevated PLA2 activity was found to be ongoing among MS patients, with the highest levels measured in patients with progressive disease. In the development of Alzheimer's disease, the abnormal PLA2 levels appear to be related to oxidative signaling pathways involving NADPH oxidase and production of ROS species that lead to impairment and destruction of neurons and inflammation of glial cells.

Inflammation is the hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a joint-destructive autoimmune disease. PLA2 is found in synovial fluid of RA-affected individuals and in the cartilage of RA patients as compared to cartilage from osteoarthritic and normal individuals.

Measurement of PLA2 is emerging as an important tool for evaluating the chance of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including future stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and other vascular events. PLA2 appears to be more specific than hsCRP for CVD risk and may also have a pivotal role as a mediator of cardiovascular pathology. In atherosclerosis, PLA2 not only activates macrophages and formation of foam cells, but it also hydrolyzes LDL and HDL, spawning increased numbers of pro-atherogenic small LDL particles, and impairing anti-atherogenic HDL. PLA2 activity may even precipitate bleeding from atherosclerotic plaques.

PLA2 is expressed normally in pancreatic, gall bladder, and GI epithelial cells, but is significantly increased in inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders. In ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, all intestinal cell types increase expression of PLA2, which increases gut permeability and may actually contribute to infectivity.

PLA2 AND CANCER

Elevations of PLA2 have been found in gastrointestinal cancers including colonic adenomas and carcinomas and pancreatic ductogenic carcinomas, among others. Patients with lung tumors positive for PLA2 had a greatly increased tumor growth rate and a markedly reduced survival rate. Patients with lung cancer also had higher plasma levels of PLA2 than patients with benign nodules. A similar pattern has been observed in prostate cancer, although metastatic tumors expressed lower PLA2 than primary tumors. As PLA2 releases arachidonic acid and other fatty acids from cell membranes, they initiate downstream production of tumor-promoting eicosanoids. In cancer, the spread of tumor cells from a primary tumor to the secondary sites within the body is a complicated process involving cell proliferation and migration, degradation of basement membranes, invasion, adhesion, and angiogenesis. Continued research on PLA2 expression in cancer will certainly reveal valuable new insights.

WHAT LOWERS PLA2?

Glucocorticoids such as the natural hormone cortisol and pharmaceutical agents such as dexamethasone inhibit the production of phospholipase, decreasing harm caused by the enzyme but also decreasing the benefits of the enzyme in killing harmful microorganisms. Thus, excess glucocorticoids can reduce inflammation in a patient with tuberculosis while reducing the effects of PLA2 against the bacteria resulting in spread of the illness. Lithium at pharmacological doses, carbamazepine, and the antimalarial drug chloroquine are all PLA2 inhibitors. Vitamin E is also an inhibitor of PLA2. In addition, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (belonging to the omega-3 class of fatty acids) inhibit PLA2.

Cytidine 5-diphospho-choline (CDP-choline), a precursor in the formation of phospholipids, is a potent inhibitor of PLA2 that has been used as a nutritional supplement at doses ranging from 500-4000 mg per day in the treatment of patients with a variety of disorders including Parkinson's disease, memory disorders, vascular cognitive impairment, vascular dementia, senile dementia, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease (especially effective in those with the epsilon-4 apolipoprotein E genotype), head trauma, and ischemic stroke. A trial in patients with Alzheimer's disease indicated that citicoline (1,000 mg/day) is well tolerated and improves cognitive performance, cerebral blood perfusion, and the brain bioelectrical activity pattern. No side effects were noticed at the lower doses of CDP-choline and only some mild gastrointestinal symptoms were found using higher doses. No abnormal blood chemistry or hematology values were found after the use of CDP-choline.

TESTING FOR PLA2

Because PLA2 is a relatively small enzyme (about 14 KD), it is able to be excreted in urine. 10 mL of the first morning urine before food or drink is suggested for testing. There are no dietary restrictions. This test is convenient to include with the organic acids test. Since chelating agents might interfere with the test, they should not be used for at least 48 hours prior to testing.

PLA2 TESTING IS RECOMMENDED FOR THE FOLLOWING DISORDERS:

  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Crohn's disease
  • Pancreatitis
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Allergies
  • Cardiovascular disease including atherosclerosi
  • Neurodegenerative diseases
  • Schizophrenia
  • Bipolar depression, subtype with psychosis
  • Candida infection
  • Sepsis
  • Long term depression
  • Asthma
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
 
 SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS

Urine:  10 ml of the first morning urine before food or drin

BROCHURE

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/560ac814e4b067a33438ecea/t/591b5ab69f7456f0991b7de0/1494964930388/PLA2TestBrochure+MC.pdf
 
 
Sample Report - Click on the link below
 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/560ac814e4b067a33438ecea/t/563d0752e4b085b67db574bc/1446840146671/PLA2_Urine+Sample+Report.pdf


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