Oxidative stress and skeletal muscle dysfunction are present in healthy smokers

Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke seems to be related to an increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and changes in muscular and physical performances of healthy smokers. However, these parameters have not yet been evaluated simultaneously in previous studies. The participants of this study were healthy males divided into two groups: smokers (n=20) and non-smokers (n=20). Inflammation was evaluated by measuring plasma levels of the cytokines IL-10, IL-6 e TNF-α, and of the soluble receptors sTNFR1 and sTNFR2. Oxidative stress was evaluated by determination of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) plasma levels, total antioxidant capacity of plasma and erythrocytes activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. Muscular performance was evaluated by measuring the peak torque of knee flexors and extensors, and by determining the total work of the knee extensors. Physical performance was assessed by measuring the peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak), the maximum heart rate (HRmax) and the walking distance in the shuttle walking test. Smokers showed an increase in the levels of the sTNFR1 and TBARS and a decrease in the total antioxidant capacity of plasma, in the catalase activity and in the total work (P<0.05). IL-6, IL-10, sTNFR2, SOD, peak torque, VO2 peak, HRmax and walking distance were similar between groups. Smokers presented increased oxidative stress and skeletal muscle dysfunction, demonstrating that the changes in molecular and muscular parameters occur simultaneously in healthy smokers.

Serial measurement of the circulating levels of tumour necrosis factor and its soluble receptors 1 and 2 for monitoring leprosy patients during multidrug treatment

Leprosy is an infectious and contagious spectral disease accompanied by a series of immunological events triggered by the host response to the aetiologic agent, Mycobacterium leprae . The induction and maintenance of the immune/inflammatory response in leprosy are linked to multiple cell interactions and soluble factors, primarily through the action of cytokines. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and its soluble receptors (sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2) in leprosy patients at different stages of multidrug treatment (MDT) in comparison with non-infected individuals and to determine their role as putative biomarkers of the severity of leprosy or the treatment response. ELISA was used to measure the levels of these molecules in 30 healthy controls and 37 leprosy patients at the time of diagnosis and during and after MDT. Our results showed increases in the serum levels of TNF-α and sTNF-R2 in infected individuals in comparison with controls. The levels of TNF-α, but not sTNF-R2, decreased with treatment. The current results corroborate previous reports of elevated serum levels of TNF-α in leprosy and suggest a role for sTNF-R2 in the control of this cytokine during MDT.

Increased serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-2 (sTNFR2) in patients with active toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis

This study aimed to investigate the serum levels of the cytokine TNF-α and its soluble receptors (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) in patients with toxoplasmosis retinochoroidits (TR) and controls. 37 patients with TR and 30 subjects with positive serology for toxoplasmosis but without history and signs of uveitis were included in this study. Serum concentrations of TNF-α, sTNFR1, and sTNFR2 were determined by ELISA. Serum concentrations of TNF-α and sTNFR1 were similar in controls (mean ± SD median values; 56.57 ± 141.96 and 504.37 ± 163.87, respectively) and TR patients (mean ± SD values, 121.62 ± 217.56 and 511.15 ± 189.30, respectively). Serum concentrations of sTNFR2 were higher in the uveitis group when compared to the control group (respectively, mean ± SD values, 1734.84 ± 379.32 and 1442.75 ± 309.47; p=0.002). There was no association between the serum levels of the molecules and the time of first symptoms, severity of vitreous haze, size or localization of active lesions, levels of visual acuity, and presence of vasculitis. These results suggest that TR is associated with changes in the circulating levels of inflammatory biomarkers, but they are not correlated with local/ocular signs.

Soluble inflammatory markers as predictors of hepatocellular damage and therapeutic response in chronic hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is an important burden worldwide being an important cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer in different parts of the world. Host immune response, especially T helper type 1 (Th1) cell-mediated, seems to play an important role in disease progression but is also crucial for viral elimination following specific therapy. Immune activation can be evaluated using peripheral levels of different cytokines, such as different chemokines (e.g. CCL5, CXCL10) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-á), and their soluble receptors (e.g. soluble TNF-á receptors 1 (sTNF-R1) and 2 (sTNF-R2). This review article focuses on the potential use of peripheral inflammatory markers as predictors of liver histological changes and therapeutic response among patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Serum levels of TNF-alpha, TNF-alpha RI, TNF-alpha RII and IL-12 in treated Rheumatoid Arthritis patients

Rheumatoid arthritis [RA] is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease common in all races and ethnics. Cytokines and cytokines receptors play an important role in RA pathogenesis and clinical presentation. To investigate the serum levels of TNF-alpha, TNF-alpha RI, TNF-alpha RII and IL-12 in RA patients and healthy control group. In this study 43 patients fulfilling the revised criteria of American College of Rheumatology [ACR] for RA and 13 healthy cases as a control group were selected for TNF-alpha, TNF-alpha RI, TNF-alpha RII and IL-12 serum level analysis. The patients' age was 42.2 +/- 22 and the age of healthy group was 40.1 +/- 19.2 years [p=0.1]. The patients had an active disease with at least six swollen and ten tender joints. Minimum ESR was 28 mm at first hours of the morning. Early morning stiffness in patients lasted longer than 45 minutes. Our study showed that IL-12 serum level of the patients [91.69 +/- 43.07 [rho]g/ml] and control [61.79 +/- 40.08 [rho]g/ml] group was significantly different [p<0.001]. The serum level of TNF-alpha RI was 2.36 +/- 0.77 ng/ml in the patient and 1.73 +/- 0.37 ng/ml in the control group [p<0.01]. TNF-alpha RII serum concentration in patients was 8.89 +/- 2.3 ng/ml, while that of control group was 7.06 +/- 1.30 ng/ml [p=0.03]. The serum level of TNF-alpha in patients was 32.90 +/- 19.27 [rho]g/ml and that of the control group was 24.27 +/- 8.28 [rho]g/ml [p=0.08] with no significant difference between the two. It is concluded that IL-12, TNF-alpha RI and TNF-alpha RII serum concentrations are more important and better predictive factors than TNF-alpha in RA course and in the active forms of the disease