Nutritional effect on lipoproteins and their subfractions in patients with Psoriatic Arthritis: a 12-week randomized trial-the DIETA trial.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with psoriatic arthritis have some lipid metabolism changes and higher risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular diseases, regardless of traditional risk factors, suggesting that chronic inflammation itself plays a central role concerning the atherosclerosis. However, there is a lack of information regarding atherogenic pattern and lipoprotein subfractions burden in these individuals. AIM: To evaluate the HDL and LDL-cholesterol plasmatic levels and their subfractions after a nutritional intervention in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: This was a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of a 12-week nutritional intervention. PsA patients were randomly assigned to 1-Placebo: 1 g of soybean oil daily, no dietetic intervention; 2-Diet + Supplementation: an individualized diet, supplemented with 604 mg of omega-3 fatty acids, three times a day; and 3-Diet + Placebo: individualized diet + 1 g of soybean oil. The LDL subfractions were classified as non-atherogenic (NAth), atherogenic (Ath) or highly atherogenic (HAth), whereas the HDL subfractions were classified as small, medium, or large particles, according to the current recommendation based on lipoproteins electrophoresis. RESULTS: A total of 91 patients were included in the study. About 62% of patients (n = 56) had an Ath or HAth profile and the main risk factors associated were male gender, longer skin disease duration and higher BMI. Thirty-two patients (35%) had a high-risk lipoprotein profile despite having LDL plasmatic levels below 100 mg/dL. The 12-week nutritional intervention did not alter the LDL subfractions. However, there were significant improvement of HDL subfractions. CONCLUSION: Recognizing the pro-atherogenic subfractions LDL pattern could be a relevant strategy for identifying PsA patients with higher cardiovascular risk, regardless total LDL plasmatic levels and disease activity. In addition, a short-term nutritional intervention based on supervised and individualized diet added to omega-3 fatty acids changed positively the HDLLARGE subfractions, while LDLLARGE subfraction was improved in hypercholesterolemic individuals. CLINICALTRIALS: gov identifier: NCT03142503 ( http://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov/ ).

Action of BjussuMP-II, a snake venom metalloproteinase isolated from Bothrops jararacussu venom, on human neutrophils.

Snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) are enzymatic proteins present in large amounts in snake venoms presenting proteolytic, hemorrhagic, and coagulant activities. BjussuMP-II, a class P-I SVMP, isolated from the Bothrops jararacussu snake venom does not have relevant hemorrhagic activity but presents fibrinolytic, fibrinogenolytic, antiplatelet, gelatinolytic, and collagenolytic action. This study aimed to verify the action of BjussuMP-II on human neutrophil functionality focusing on the lipid bodies formation and hydrogen peroxide production, the release of dsDNA through colorimetric and microscopic assays, and cytokines by immunoenzymatic assays. Results showed that BjussuMP-II at concentrations of 1.5 up to 50 µg/mL for 24 h is not toxic to human neutrophils using an MTT assay. Under non-cytotoxic concentrations, BjussuMP-II can induce an increase in the formation of lipid bodies, production of hydrogen peroxide and cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8)] liberation and, the release of dsDNA to form NETs. Taken together, the data obtained show for the first time that BjussuMP-II has a pro-inflammatory action and activates human neutrophils that can contribute to local damage observed in snakebite victims.