Diana Ivanova

Anti-C1q autoantibodies specific against the globular domain of the C1qB-chain from patient with lupus nephritis inhibit C1q binding to IgG and CRP.

Lupus nephritis is one of the most severe manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus. Higher titers of serum anti-C1q autoantibodies correlate with disease activity in patients with lupus nephritis. Anti-C1q autoantibodies have been shown to bind neo-epitopes within the collagen region of human C1q. In a preliminary study, we recently reported that the anti-C1q autoantibodies could also recognize epitopes within the globular domain (gC1q) of the C1q molecule. Here, 38 sera from patients with renal biopsy-proven lupus nephritis were screened for the presence of anti-gC1q autoantibodies, using recombinant globular head regions of individual A (ghA), B (ghB) and C (ghC) chains of human C1q. We isolated anti-gC1q autoantibodies from three selected patients. Human C1q was pre-incubated with increasing concentrations of the isolated anti-ghA, anti-ghB or anti-ghC autoantibodies and its binding to different C1q target molecules such as IgG and CRP was then evaluated. Anti-ghB, but not anti-ghA and anti-ghC autoantibodies, markedly inhibited C1q interaction with IgG as well as CRP. These results appear to suggest that the anti-ghB autoantibodies may partially induce acquired functional C1q deficiency and thus may interfere with the biological function of C1q.

Agrimonia eupatoria tea consumption in relation to markers of inflammation, oxidative status and lipid metabolism in healthy subjects

Phytotherapy reports strong anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory potential of agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria L.). However the effects of agrimony tea consumption are not scientifically proven in humans. We investigated the effects of one month’s consumption of agrimony tea in healthy volunteers. Significant elevation of plasma total antioxidant capacity was observed and interleukin 6 levels were significantly lowered at the end of the intervention. An improved lipid profile as estimated by increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was established upon agrimony tea supplementation and HDL cholesterol correlated with adiponectin levels. The results presented in this first human intervention study with agrimony tea indicate that the plant has potential in improving markers of lipid metabolism, oxidative status and inflammation in healthy adults.

Improved lipid profile and increased serum antioxidant capacity in healthy volunteers after Sambucus ebulus L. fruit infusion consumption

Abstract This study aimed to establish the effect of Sambucus ebulus L. (SE) ripe fruit infusion on body weight, blood pressure, glucose levels, lipid profile and antioxidant markers in healthy volunteers in respect of its possible protective activity against cardiovascular diseases and other oxidative stress-related diseases. The study involved 21 healthy volunteers, aged between 20 and 59, BMI 23.12 ± 1.31, who consumed 200 ml SE infusion/day for a period of 30 d. Blood samples were collected before and at the end of the intervention. Significant decrease in triglycerides (14.92%), total cholesterol (15.04%) and LDL-C (24.67%) was established at the end of the study. In addition, HDL-C/LDL-C ratio increased by 42.77%. Improved serum antioxidant capacity and total thiol levels were also established. The results presented in this first human intervention study with SE fruit infusion indicate the potential of the plant to improve lipid profile and serum antioxidant capacity in humans.

Effect of melatonin on burn-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats

We studied the effect of melatonin treatment on gastric mucosal damage induced by experimental burns and its possible relation to changes in gastric lipid peroxidation status. Melatonin was intraperitoneally applied immediately after third-degree burns over 30% of total body skin surface area of rats. Malondialdehyde (MDA), uric acid (UA) and sulphydril (SH) levels were determined in gastric mucosa and blood plasma and used as biomarkers of the oxidative stress. The results showed that the skin burn caused oxidative stress evidenced by accumulation of MDA and UA as well as the depletion of SHs in gastric mucosa. Plasma MDA concentrations were elevated, while plasma SH concentrations were decreased after burns. Melatonin (10 mg per kg body weight) protected gastric mucosa from oxidative damage by suppressing lipid peroxidation and activating the antioxidant defence. It may be hypothesised that melatonin restores the redox balance in the gastric mucosa and protects it from burn-induced oxidative injury. Melatonin has no significant influence on the concentrations of plasma MDA and antioxidants after burn; therefore, it should largely be considered as a limiting factor for tissue-damage.

Subchronic Toxicity Study of Aqueous Infusion from Cotinus coggygria Leaves in Wistar Rats

The Eurasian smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) is used by the Balkan folk medicine for its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties as well as for treatment of gingival and throat inflammations. Although C. coggygria has been applied mainly externally because of the large gallotannins content, there are few reports for internal use of its leaves against gastric ulcer, diarrhoea, nephritis, anthrax, asthma, cardiac and urinal diseases and even diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study is to examine the toxicity of C. coggygria leaves aqueous infusion in experimental animals. Male Wistar rats were treated by stomach gavage with different concentrations of herb infusion (1, 2 and 4%) or distilled water at doses of 10 ml/kg b.w. After 30 days of treatment, the animals were sacrificed and the blood and organs were collected for biochemical and histopathological analyses. Results showed that treatment with aqueous infusion from C. coggygria did not cause subchronic toxicity on liver and kidney. Histological investigation did not detect pathological deviations in the organs of treated groups compared with control. No significant changes were observed in the serum levels of hepatic enzymes, urea, creatinine, triacylglycerols and total The financial support from the Medical Science Fund of the Medical University of Varna is greatly acknowledged.

The Free Radical Theory of Aging In Search of a Strategy for Increasing Life Span / Свободнорадикальная Теория О Старении В Поиске Стратегии Увеличить Продолжительность Жизни

Abstract This overview is an attempt to throw a fresh look at the popular free radical theory of aging (referred to also as oxidative stress theory) which holds that the progressive decline in physiological functions is a result of accumulation of diverse deleterious changes caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). We discuss the role of mitochondria as a major source of ROS in the cell and how these link accumulation of oxidative damage to the age-related changes in physiologic functions. The free radical theory of aging is analysed here from two different views of aging - one (the pessimistic view) that regards aging as the inevitable result of life activity the consequences of which are accumulation of errors in the genome and damage of the biomolecules, and the other (the optimistic view) which considers that it is the changes in mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis with age that cause the functional tissue changes and aging. We also discuss the possibility of delaying the aging process by appropriate diet or drug therapy, which includes also calorie restriction as a mechanism of modifying the generation of free radicals and body metabolism and thus extending lifespan as a result. Резюме Настоящий обзор - это более новое представ- ление о старой популярной свободнорадикальной теории о старении, известной еще как теория об оксидативном стрессе. Эта теория считает, что прогрессивное ухудшение физиологических функций является результатом накопления повреждений, вызванных активными кислородными формами (АКФ). Рассматриваются роль митохондрий как главный источник АКФ в клетке и осуществление их связи между акумулированием оксидативных повреждений и изменением функций, связанных со старением. Свободнорадикальная теория анализи- руется с точки зрения двух различных концепций старения - „песимистическая” с одной стороны, которая определяет старение как неизбежный результат жизнедеятельности, последствиями которой является накопление ошибок в геноме и поражения биомолекул, и „оптимистиеская” с другой стороны, которая рассматривает изменения в митохондриальных путях апоптоза с возрастом, как причина для изменения в тканевых функциях и причина для старения. Рассматривается возможность замедления ста- рения с помощью подходящей диеты или фармакоте- рапии, в т.ч. обсуждается роль рестрикции калорий в качестве механизма с целью оказать влияние на свободнорадикальную продукцию, метаболизм и в результате увеличить продолжительность жизни.

How much do we know about the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus

Vitamin D is an essential steroid hormone. The role of Vitamin D in mineral metabolism and skeletal health as related to calcium homeostasis is well established. In addition to this role, vitamin D has been recently accepted also as immune modulator and thus it could be possibly implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This review focuses on the question: „Is vitamin D deficiency involved in the pathogenesis of SLE or is it a consequence of the disease state?” and comments the known positive effects of vitamin D supplementation on SLE disease activity.

Cytostatic therapy and blood antioxidants/prooxidants balance in acute myeloblastic leukemia patients

To analyze the effects of conventional polychemotherapy of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) patients on the prooxidants/antioxidants balance in plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) and a single plasma antioxidant — uric acid (UA) were measured. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by malonedialdehyde (MDA) content. Total serum iron was monitored as a potential source of nontransferrin-bound iron with a role in initiation of oxidative burst. A group of patients in the acute phase of AML (group A) and a group of patients in complete remission of AML (group B) were studied. A strong correlation between UA values and TAS (r = 0.8 for group A, r = 0.9 for group B) was revealed in the course of the treatment. Strong negative correlation (r = −0.9) between TAS and MDA was shown for both groups. Total iron significantly increased in the course of chemotherapy. We have established that polychemotherapy leads to the consumption of antioxidants and increased lipid peroxidation in AML patients. An appropriate supplementation with antioxidants at the end of the polychemotherapy treatment could be considered.