Platelet indices in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - association with inflammatory markers, comorbidities and therapy.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex inflammatory condition that can affect haemostasis. This study aimed to determine differences in platelet-related parameters between controls and COPD subjects. The hypothesis was that platelet indices are disturbed in COPD patients, and this would be accompanied by increased C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (Fbg) and white blood cells (WBC).

Pro-inflammatory effects of extracellular Hsp70 on NCI-H292 human bronchial epithelial cell line.

Extracellular Hsp70 (eHsp70) exerts its biological actions via Toll-like receptors 2 and 4, and is increased in sera of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The aim of this study was to explore the pro-inflammatory effects and cytotoxicity of eHsp70 alone and in combination with bacterial components lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on NCI-H292 airway epithelial cells. NCI-H292 cells were treated with recombinant human Hsp70 protein (rhHsp70), LPS, LTA and their combinations for 4, 12, 24 and 48 hours.

Differential expression of heat shock proteins and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in A549 alveolar epithelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? What is the effect of cigarette smoke on cell death, oxidative damage, expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in A549 alveolar epithelial cells? What is the main finding and its importance? Cigarette smoke induces cytotoxicity and oxidative damage to A549 cells, increases expression of different HSPs and activates MAPK signalling pathways. This could be related to inflammatory response and apoptosis observed in lungs of patients with smoking-related diseases.

Abstract: Cigarette smoking is one of the main risk factors for development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Cigarette Smoke Induces Activation of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes.

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Exposure to cigarette smoke may stimulate inflammatory response and activate polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) thus resulting in secretion of cellular proteases. The aim of our study was to explore the effect of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on the release of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) from PMN.

Serum activities of adenosine deaminase, dipeptidyl peptidase IV and prolyl endopeptidase in patients with fibromyalgia: diagnostic implications.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome with number of symptoms that present challenge in terms of diagnosis and treatment. Patients with FM show abnormal profile of purines in plasma. In this work, we measured serum activities of enzymes involved in purine metabolism, namely total adenosine deaminase (ADE) and its isoforms (ADE1 and ADE2), ecto-ATPase, and 5'-nucleotidase (5'-NT).

Systemic redox imbalance in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Context: Increased oxidative burden is found in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Objective: To assess the association of ceruloplasmin, albumin, bilirubin, transferrin, thiols and malondialdehyde (MDA) with stable COPD.

Materials And Methods: Oxidative stress markers measured in 106 COPD patients and 45 healthy subjects were evaluated.

Systemic inflammation up-regulates serum hepcidin in exacerbations and stabile chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objectives: Hepcidin is the main regulator of systemic iron homeostasis and its expression is modulated by iron status, hypoxia, erythroid factors and inflammation. The aim of our study was to examine a relationship between level of hepcidin and iron status, erythropoietic activity, hypoxia and inflammation in exacerbations and stable COPD patients. We hypothesized that hepcidin concentration is changed in COPD patients and is substantially influenced by inflammation and/or hypoxia.

Quantification of malondialdehyde by HPLC-FL - application to various biological samples.

Malondialdehyde (MDA) is stabile product of lipid peroxidation (LPO), and therefore MDA is frequently used as a biomarker of LPO. To determine MDA level in various biological samples (human plasma, fish liver tissue and cells in culture), we used an HPLC method with fluorescent detection based on 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assay. The method was validated by the use of spiked pooled plasma samples.

Differential activation of MAPKs by individual and combined ochratoxin A and citrinin treatments in porcine kidney PK15 cells.

The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms of OTA and CTN individual and combined toxicity in porcine kidney PK15 cells of proximal tubule origin. Activation and expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) ERK, JNK and p38 were determined by Western blot analysis. MAPKs were differentially activated by single or dual OTA and CTN treatments.

Paraoxonase 1 activity and phenotype distribution in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Introduction: Postmenopausal women have higher risk of cardiovascular disease. One of the contributing factors could be reduced activity of anti-atherogenic enzyme paraoxonase 1 (PON1). The aim of this study was to examine differences in the lipid status, paraoxonase and arylesterase PON1 activities and PON1 phenotype in women with regular menstrual cycle and in postmenopausal women.

Disturbed Hsp70 and Hsp27 expression and thiol redox status in porcine kidney PK15 cells provoked by individual and combined ochratoxin A and citrinin treatments.

The aim of this study was to explore the oxidative properties of ochratoxin A (OTA) and citrinin (CTN) as a possible underlying mechanism of their individual and/or combined cytotoxicity. Metabolic activity of PK15 porcine kidney cells was significantly reduced with OTA and CTN co-exposures, with synergistic cytotoxic interactions. Single CTN increased both reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione after 24 h.

Paraoxonase 1 activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Introduction: Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is an antioxidative enzyme manly associated with high density lipoproteins (HDL) in the peripheral blood. The aim of this study was to determine the PON1 paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We also aimed to determine the concentration of reduced thiol groups as a marker of protein oxidation.

Gamma-glutamyltransferase and C-reactive protein in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Systemic inflammation and oxidative stress are the most important features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The presence of oxidative stress in the airways of smokers, the largest population of COPD patients, is a consequence of direct inhalation of cigarette smoke and increased inflammation-related production of reactive oxygen species. On the other hand, oxidative stress appears to be the key component of many processes associated with chronic inflammation.

Cigarette smoke induces endoplasmic reticulum stress response and proteasomal dysfunction in human alveolar epithelial cells.

Cigarette smoking is the major risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cigarette smoke (CS) causes oxidative stress and severe damage to proteins in the lungs. One of the main systems to protect cells from the accumulation of damaged proteins is the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

Decreased soluble dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity as a potential serum biomarker for COPD.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to measure soluble dipeptidyl peptidase IV (sDPPIV) activity in sera of patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in comparison to healthy controls. The main goal was to assess changes in the enzyme activity in relation to severity of the disease, age and smoking history and to evaluate diagnostic accuracy for prediction of COPD by level of serum sDPPIV activity.

Design And Methods: The study included 106 patients with stable COPD (GOLD II-GOLD IV stages) and 38 healthy controls.

Polymorphisms of pon1 and pon2 genes in hemodialyzed patients.

Objectives: Q192R, L55M and -108C>T polymorphisms of pon1 gene affect PON1 paraoxonase activity while S311C polymorphism of pon2 gene might be associated with coronary heart disease. The aims of this study were to determine the frequencies of Q192R, L55M, -108C>T and S311C polymorphisms in hemodialyzed patients and to examine the relationship between pon1 gene polymorphisms and PON1 paraoxonase activity in those patients.

Design And Methods: The study included 238 control subjects and 263 hemodialyzed patients.

Platelet count, mean platelet volume and smoking status in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an increasing global health problem, may be complicated by acute atherothrombotic events. Although systemic inflammation plays the leading role in atherothrombotic processes, platelet activation and increased coagulation together with oxidative stress can significantly exacerbate atherosclerosis in COPD patients. In this study we determined platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV) and classical markers of systemic inflammation - serum C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC) count and the relative proportion of segmented neutrophils in COPD patients, and compared them to those from the healthy controls.

Effect of non-genetic factors on paraoxonase 1 activity in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Objectives: Hemodialyzed patients have lower paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity. Higher mortality risk from cardiovascular disease observed in these patients could be due to the low antiathetrogenic activity of PON1. Understanding the mechanism that causes lower PON1 activity could provide the possibility for modulation of enzyme activity in purpose of preventing and/or decreasing development of atherosclerosis.

Glutathione cycle in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic inflammation and oxidant/antioxidant imbalance. Glutathione is the most abundant cellular low-molecular weight thiol and the glutathione redox cycle is the fundamental component of the cellular antioxidant defence system. Concentration of total glutathione and catalytic activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were determined in peripheral blood of patients (n = 109) and healthy subjects (n = 51).

A journey through mitogen-activated protein kinase and ochratoxin A interactions.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a ubiquitous mycotoxin with potential nephrotoxic, carcinogenic, and cytotoxic action. It has been proposed that OTA might be involved in the development of Balkan endemic nephropathy, which is associated with an increased risk of urinary tract tumours, and of other forms of interstitial nephritis. Cell susceptibility to OTA mainly depends on mycotoxin concentrations, duration of exposure, and intracellular molecular and genetic context.

Levels changes of blood leukocytes and intracellular signalling pathways in COPD patients with respect to smoking attitude.

Objectives: To examine whether the proportions of blood leukocyte subsets are altered in COPD, and to assess the disturbances in signalling pathways in the leukocytes of COPD patients, with respect to smoking history.

Design And Methods: The study was performed at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry and University Hospital for Lung Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia. Leukocyte counts were determined in 28 COPD male patients (11 smokers, 9 ex-smokers, 8 non-smokers) and 42 healthy male subjects (15 smokers, 13 ex-smokers, 14 non-smokers).

Mycotoxin fumonisin B1 alters cellular redox balance and signalling pathways in rat liver and kidney.

Mycotoxin fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) is a frequent contaminant of grain, particularly maize, but the mechanism of its toxicity in the kidney and liver is not fully understood. FB(1)-stimulated oxidative stress might disturb cellular redox state and signal transduction pathways of the target cells. In this study we measured total intracellular glutathione (GSH), and assessed mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation and the expression of heat shock proteins (Hsps) Hsp25 and Hsp70 in the liver and kidney of male Wistar rats given 0.

The effect of liposomes with superoxide dismutase on A2182 cells.

Differently charged liposomes were examined for the efficiency of delivery of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) to human lung epithelial cells, A2182, and their prospects of cell protection from oxidative agents. A2182 cells were treated with cationic, neutral and anionic liposomes with encapsulated CuZnSOD. Untreated cells and cells pre-treated with liposome-encapsulated CuZnSOD were exposed to oxidative stress caused by xanthine/xanthine oxidase.