Short-and-long-term effects of acetylsalicylic acid treatment on the proliferation and lipid peroxidation of skin cultured melanocytes of active vitiligo

Recent in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, acetylsalicylic acid [ASA] or aspirin has antioxidant properties on various cell lines and tissues. Hence, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of ASA at 2 different concentrations [75 and 300ug/ml] on the proliferative capacities and lipid peroxidation of in vitro skin cultured melanocytes obtained from patients with active vitiligo. The present work was carried out from February 2001 through to November 2001, at the Vitiligo Unit, King Abdul-Aziz University Medical Center, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Employing methods described in this section, cryopreserved primary cultured melanocytes that were originally cultured from skin biopsies of normal healthy individuals and patients with active vitiligo [n=7], were subcultured to confluence. The malondialdehyde [MDA] concentrations in the cell culture medium were determined at 6 hours and 21 days following cultured melanocytes treatment with ASA [75 and 300ug/ml]. Also, the number of viable melanocytes was determined 21 days following the treatment of melanocytes with ASA [75 and 300ug/ml]. Following ASA treatment at 75ug/ml, the cultured melanocytes from the normal and active vitiligo donors showed significant increase in the proliferative capacities as judged by the increase in the number of viable melanocytes after 21 days of cell culture [28.2% and 26.9%, p<0.001]. Concomitantly, the same ASA concentration resulted in significant decrease in the concentrations of MDA in the cell culture medium of the normal and active vitiligo melanocytes 6 hour and 21-day period following the ASA treatment [6 hour: 16.2% [p<0.05] and 18.4% [p<0.001]; 21 day: 32% and 38.6% [p<0.001]]. However, the long-term [21 days] treatment of cultured melanocytes from the normal and active vitiligo donors with ASA at 300ug/ml resulted in a significant reduction in the number of viable melanocytes [33.6% and 63.5%, p<0.001]. Whereas, MDA concentrations 6 hour and 21-day period following the ASA treatment had significantly increased [6 hour: 28.6% [p<0.05] and 41.3% [p<0.001] 21 day: 92.8% and 127.8% [p<0.001]]. Low-dose ASA [75ug/ml] may confer protection of skin melanocytes from the normal and active vitiligo donors against lipid peroxidation and up-regulate their proliferative capacities. On the other hand, high-dose ASA [300ug/ml] may have deleterious effects on the melanocytes, increasing lipid peroxidation and hence may potentiate melanocyte apoptosis

Alterations of erythrocyte free radical defense system, heart tissue lipid peroxidation, and lipid concentration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats under coenzyme Q10 supplementation

Free radicals play an important role in genesis and development of various chronic diseases and aging. Our objective is to study the effects of coenzyme Q10 [CoQ10] supplementation on erythrocyte antioxidants, heart tissue lipid peroxidation end products and lipid concentration in different age of diabetic rats. In this study, the activities of superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px], and the content of reduced glutathione [GSH] were determined in erythrocytes. The products of lipid peroxidation were determined in the heart tissues of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and in healthy rats at 4, 8, and 13-months of age. The above mentioned antioxidant systems of erythrocytes were also determined after supplementation of diabetic and healthy rats with CoQ10. This study was carried out in King Fahad Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between 2000 and 2001. In erythrocytes of diabetic rats the activity of GSH-Px was significantly decreased [p<0.001] in all different age groups, whereas the activity of SOD was significantly increased [p<0.001]. However, in erythrocyte of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, the concentration of GSH and high-density lipoprotein [HDL]-cholesterol were significantly lower than non-diabetic rats. Moreover, the concentration of heart tissue lipid peroxidation end products, and plasma glucose, cholesterol and triacylglycerol were significantly increased [p<0.001] in all age groups of diabetic rats. Daily supplementation with CoQ10 [10 mg/kg body weight, one month] after induction of diabetes to the rats resulted in the following changes: an increase in both erythrocyte GSH concentration and GSH-Px activity, and slightly increases in plasma HDL-cholesterol. However, SOD activity was significantly decreased [p<0.05]. In addition, the levels of lipid peroxidation end products, and triacylglycerol were significantly decreased [p<0.05] in diabetic rats supplemented with CoQ10. The results of the present study indicated that CoQ10 supplementation helps to prevent clinical complications during the course of the disease in diabetic rats

Plasma and red blood cells membrane lipid concentration of sickle cell disease patients

The present study aimed to determine the concentration of plasma and red blood cells [RBCs] membrane lipids in Saudi sickle cell disease [SCD] patients. This study was carried out at the Hematology Clinic, King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from October 1998 to October 1999. Lipid concentrations were determined in plasma and RBC membrane of 81 SCD patients and 66 normal healthy matched individuals [control]. Different lipid parameters were measured according to standardized enzymatic assay methods. The plasma concentrations of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol of SCD patients were significantly decreased [p<0.001], whereas the plasma concentrations of high density lipoprotein phospholipids were significantly increased [p<0.001]. The plasma concentrations of apo A and apo B were significantly decreased [p<0.001] in SCD patients. However, the concentration of total cholesterol of RBC membrane was significantly increased [p<0.001] in SCD patients, while the phospholipid content was significantly decreased [p<0.001]. The significant increase of RBC membrane cholesterol concentration in SCD patients possibly is responsible to the change in RBC membrane fluidity that may play a direct role in the sickling phenomenon of RBCs in SCD