WHOLE-BODY PROTEIN-TURNOVER AND HEPATIC PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS ARE INCREASED BY VACCINATION IN MAN

1. The ability of diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis-typhoid vaccination to induce modifications in protein metabolism was investigated in pos t-absorptive healthy humans, 2, Seven subjects were studied before and 2 days after vaccination, They underwent an intravenous primed consta nt infusion of L-[1-C-13]leucine for 4h, Plasma protein concentrations , whole-body amino acid fluxes and acute-phase protein synthesis were determined, 3, Plasma concentrations of fibrinogen, alpha(1)-acid glyc oprotein, haptoglobin and alpha(1)-antitrypsin were significantly elev ated 2 days after vaccination (P<0.05), Leucine oxidation was unaffect ed but whole-body protein synthesis and breakdown were both increased (P<0,05), by 25 and 16% respectively, in subjects who had an elevated body temperature (n=5), Albumin synthesis was unchanged, but hepatic s ynthesis of fibrinogen was 56% higher after vaccination, 4, The presen t investigation indicates that diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis-typhoi d vaccination could induce a sustained acute-phase reaction. Moreover, protein metabolism appeared to be extremely sensitive to a mild stres s since leucine kinetics and fibrinogen synthesis were affected, There fore, diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis-typhoid vaccination might repre sent an attractive model for studying the inflammatory process in huma ns.