Free radical damage: role in varicella zoster virus infection

Abstract

Study of the role of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant system in patients with infectious diseases is of great interest to researchers. Numerous studies have led to a common understanding of their contribution to the pathogenesis of infectious diseases, as well as to the complications development. However, the state of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant protection in patients with chickenpox (varicella) has not been sufficiently studied which is important for the development of new targeted treatments. The aim of the research to assess the state of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the antioxidant system (AOS) in the dynamics in patients with chickenpox, depending on the severity of the disease. Materials and methods. We selected for participating in the study 240 chickenpox patients (142 women and 98 men) aged 18–40 years. Chickenpox was diagnosed using clinical, serological, and molecular genetic methods. The state assessment of LPO in chickenpox patients was based on the determination of serum diene conjugates (DC), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the total oxidative activity (TOA) of blood plasma. Results. Study showed that the process of lipid peroxidation increases and the activity of the antioxidant system decreases in patients with chickenpox during the acute period of the disease. The extent of these processes becomes greater as the severity of chickenpox increases. A decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes and a disruption in the functioning of the glutathione system in patients with moderate to severe hypertension leads to disruption of protective mechanisms and, as a result, to an increase in the free radical chain reactions, the uncontrolled growth of which causes irreversible damage to the membranes of various cells, which underlies visceropathy in chickenpox patients. Conclusions. Antioxidant system is activated in the acute period in patients with mild chickenpox. It is evidenced by an increase in the overall antioxidant activity of blood plasma (p = 0.045) and red blood cells (p = 0.00087), in the activity of catalase (p = 0.001), superoxide dismutase (p = 0.0093), glutathione peroxidase (p = 0.036), glutathione reductase of plasma and red blood cells, and an increase in the concentration of oxidized and reduced glutathione in blood. Lipid peroxidation is hyperactivated in the acute period in patients with a moderate and severe course of the disease and an excess amount of primary and secondary hydroperoxides of fatty acids accumulates in the blood. This is accompanied by indicates a developing imbalance between the oxidative and antioxidant systems in group of patients with moderate and severe chickenpox. Our findings confirm the usefulness of antioxidants in the treatment of chickenpox.