Influence of Sex and Age on the Activity of Antioxidant Enzymes of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes in Healthy subjects

In this study, the main antioxidant enzymes (AOE) of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were identified, and the influence of sex and age in healthy human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) was determined. The SOD, GPX, CAT and MPO activities were investigated in intestinal parasite negative human PMNL from 109 healthy subjects aged from 6 to 70 years (55 males and 54 females) using simple and sensitive enzyme assays. Blood cells, such as eosinophils, platelets, neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages also synthesize antioxidant enzymes (AOE). They constitute an important proportion and are also the major participants in a number of pathological conditions that suggest the involvement of AOE. A linear effect of age on SOD activity (p < 0.05) both in males and females was found. A similar effect with GPX activity (p < 0.05) was observed in males only. This showed that the activities of all these enzymes increase with age. In addition, SOD activity was significantly higher in females than males between the age of 19 and 70 years (p < 0.001). This analysis also showed that there is a negative correlation between the CAT-GPX (p < 0.05) activities and positive correlations between MPO-GPX (p < 0.05) activities only in females. No correlation among the other enzyme activities was found in either sex group. This study showed the activities of antioxidant enzyme activities and the correlations of these enyzmes activities with each other in healthy human PMNLs were age- and sex-dependent. This information may assisit in understanding the importance of antioxidant enzymes in the physiological and pathological conditions associated with PMNL.

White blood cell counts in lead exposed male workers in a metal powder producing factory in kayseri, Turkey

The effects of lead on white blood cells [WBC] were studied in lead exposed male workers occupied for 17.84 +/- 4.22 years in metal powder producing factory in Kayseri, Turkey and control male workers randomly selected at a sugar refinery factory in same city. Blood lead and plasma zinc levels were measured by Atomic Absorption Spectorphotometry [AAS] and total WBC, lymphocytes, neutrophils and MID [monocytes, basophils, and eosinophils] counts in lead exposed male workers and control subjects determined by Coulter Counter. The lead exposure workers had higher lead levels [18.81 +/- 9.21 micro g/dl] as compared to control subjects [2.37 +/- 0.10 micro g/dl]. The mean plasma zinc concentration was 1.12 +/- 0.49 mg/l in control groups. There was not a statistically significantly significant different between both groups with regard to plasma zinc levels. When comparing the parameters of the two groups, they were significantly different except MID. Although the chronic exposure to lead does not alter white cell counts, the animal studies have showed that chronic exposure to lead affects immunological responsiveness. We plan further studies to determine immune alterations [such as peripheral blood lymphocytes, serum immunoglobulins, some complement protein concentrations] in these workers, on order to see whether in human beings chronic exposure to lead, may be detrimental to the immune system