TNF-alpha priming effect on polymorphonuclear leukocyte reactive oxygen species generation and adhesion molecule expression in hemodialyzed patients

Serum metalloproteinases MMP-2, MMP-9 and metalloproteinase tissue inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in patients on hemodialysis

BACKGROUND

We assessed the effect of hemodialysis (HD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) on the serum levels of metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and metalloproteinase tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1) and TIMP-2.

METHODS

18 patients on regular HD treatment with low-flux, cuprophane membrane, 15 non-dialyzed patients with CKD and 15 healthy controls were sampled. The serum MMP and TIMP concentrations were determined by ELISA assays.

RESULTS

MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 serum levels were significantly decreased in HD patients to 32.7 ± 20.1 ng/ml, 178.8 ± 73.0 ng/ml, and 103.4 ± 55.3 ng/ml compared with 482.3 ± 139.5, 367.6 ± 75.5 ng/ml, and 299.7 ± 63.2 ng/ml in patients with CKD and 594.6 ± 154.7 ng/ml, 354.5 ± 81.2 ng/ml, and 272.4 ± 91.8 ng/ml in healthy controls, respectively, (P < 0.001 vs. HD patients). MMP-2 was lower in patients with CKD: 405.6 ± 106.1 ng/ml compared with 516.9 ± 81.7 ng/ml in controls (P = 0.02). The MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio was increased in HD patients compared with both patients with CKD and controls. In the course of an HD session, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 serum levels were significantly decreased from pre-HD 570.0 ± 256.5 and 178.8 ± 66.9 ng/ml to post-HD 492.6 ± 212.5 and 144.6 ± 44.2 ng/ml (P = 0.004 and 0.013, respectively). However, the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio increased from pre-HD 0.15 (2.19) (median, range) to 0.23 (0.33) after a HD session (P = 0.03). CRP was positively correlated with MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio in HD patients and patients with CKD (r = 0.67; P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

The MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio increased during HD sessions, although their absolute levels were lowered. This change may represent a chronic state of enhanced fibrosis in patients undergoing HD.

IL-2, IL-6 and IL-8 levels remain unaltered in the course of immunosuppressive therapy after renal transplantation

Cytokines regulate the immune reactions elicited by renal transplantation (RT). This study was designed to investigate the blood serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 in 25 RT patients (10 female and 15 male, mean 5.4±2.7 yrs after RT) three times over a six-month period during standard immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine A, azathioprine and prednisolone. The levels of IL-2, IL-6 and IL-8 were tested with ELISA Quantikine Human Interleukin Immunoassay (R&D Systems, detection level 7,0.7 and 10 pg/cm3, respectively). There was no significant alternation of blood serum levels of IL-2, IL-6 and IL-8 in the study patients.

Plasma Total Antioxidant Activity in Comparison with Plasma NO and VEGF Levels in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Introduction

The aim of our study was to estimate plasma antioxidant activity as well as plasma nitric oxide (NO) and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in patients with metabolic syndrome compared with healthy participants.

Material and Methods

Fifty patients (24 women and 26 men, mean age 55.9 ± 11.8 years) with metabolic syndrome were compared with 25 healthy participants (12 women and 13 men, mean age 54.2 ± 12.8 years). Plasma total antioxidant activity and plasma levels of NO and VEGF were determined in all participants.

Results

In the patients with metabolic syndrome, plasma total antioxidant activity, nitric oxide, and vascular endothelial growth factor were significantly lower ( P < .001) than that observed in healthy participants (3.2 ± 1.6 vs 6.4 ± 2.1 mM/L), (6.3 ± 2.2 vs 9.8 ± 2.7 μM/L), and 71.0 ± 16.9 vs 137.5 ± 12.6 pg/mL), respectively.

Conclusions

Decreased plasma total antioxidant activity, NO, and VEGF levels in patients with metabolic syndrome reflect significant endothelial dysfunction. This suggests that oxidation–reduction balance disorders might play an important role in this process

Evaluation of selected parameters of the antioxidative system in patients with type 2 diabetes in different periods of metabolic compensation

Introduction:

The aim of the study was to evaluate some selected parameters of the antioxidative system in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods:

Eighty-one type 2 diabetes patients took part in the study (39 patients with metabolically balanced and 42 with metabolically unbalanced diabetes). The control group consisted of 30 healthy people. The total antioxidant capacity of plasma was measured fluorometrically using phycoerythrin. To calculate the low-molecular-weight antioxidant concentration in the plasma samples, the duration of Trolox activity as a function of its concentration in the sample was measured. The activity of antioxidative enzymes in red blood cells was determined using the Misra and Fridovich method and Beers and Sizer method.

Results:

The total plasma antioxidant capacity and the low-molecular-weight antioxidant concentration in the group of patients with metabolically compensated type 2 diabetes were statistically significantly higher than in the group of patients with metabolically uncontrolled diabetes. The activity of antioxidative enzymes was found to be higher in the group of type 2 diabetes patients at the stage of metabolic balance.

Conclusions:

The obtained results confirm the thesis of glucose toxicity and intensification of oxidative stress in patients with diabetes.

Integrin CD11a/CD18, CD11b/CD18 and CD69 expression in patients after renal transplantation

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a complex clinical entity caused by progressive destruction of functional renal parenchyma in the course of various pathological processes resulting in complete failure of renal function and subsequent metabolic, acid base and electrolyte as well as immune disorders. Renal transplantation (RT) is one of the renal replacement therapy options in the terminal stage of chronic renal failure. The replacement of the failing organ with one from a healthy donor may be complicated with immune host response. This study was designed to investigate the changes in serum concentration of integrins CD11a/CD18, CD11b/CD18, CD69 on the surface of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) after the RT within two six-month periods. The study included 25 RT patients (mean 5.4±2.7 yrs after the transplantation, 10 females and 15 males) treated with immune suppressive therapy including cyclosporine A, azathioprine and prednisolone. The expression was assessed with monoclonal antibodies by means of flow cytometry. Also, the expression of CD69 was determined before and after phytohemaglutinine (PHA) stimulation. There was no significant alternation in serum concentration of CD11a/CD18, CD11b/CD18 and CD69 at baseline, six months and twelve months later. The expression of integrins was not altered in renal transplantation patients in the current study setting.