Interleukin-18 promoter polymorphisms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: The role of various polymorphisms located in the IL-18 promoter has not yet been defined with regards to patient susceptibility to SLE, and occurrence of clinical manifestations of the disease remains inconsistent. METHODS: Using PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing analysis we studied the frequency of -137 G/C (rs187238), -607 C/A (rs1946518) and -1297C/T (rs360719) polymorphisms in IL-18 promoter in patients with SLE from a sample of the Polish population. RESULTS: We observed that patients with SLE bearing the IL-18 -1297CC genotype exhibited a 2.536-fold increased risk of SLE incidence (95% CI=1.333-4.826, p=0.0035). We also found a significantly higher frequency of the IL-18 -1297C allele in patients than in controls, with odds ratio (OR) for the IL-18 -1297C allele in patients with SLE being 1.558 (95% CI=1.189-2.041, p=0.0013). Moreover, there was an association between the IL-18 -1297CC genotype and renal manifestations of SLE, OR=3.792 (1.446-9.947, p=0.0051). However, we did not find any contribution of the IL-18 -607 C/A and -137 G/C polymorphisms to SLE incidence or occurrence of the studied SLE manifestations. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirmed that the IL-18 -1297C gene variant may contribute to the risk of SLE incidence. Moreover, IL-18 -1297CC might be associated with renal manifestations of SLE.

The CD3Z 844 T>A polymorphism within the 3'-UTR of CD3Z confers increased risk of incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Recently, a family-based association analysis showed that the haplotype carrying a low expression of the variant CD3Z 844 T>A (rs1052231) polymorphism located in the 3'-untranslated region of CD3Z predisposes to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) incidence. We analyzed the prevalence of the CD3Z 844 T>A polymorphism in SLE patients (n = 152) and controls (n = 304) in Poland. We observed that women with the CD3Z AA and CD3Z AT genotypes exhibited a 1.845-fold increased risk of SLE [95% confidence intervals (95% CI) = 1.222-2.787, P = 0.0038]. However, we did not find an increased risk for the homozygous CD3Z AA genotype (odds ratio = 1.204, 95% CI = 0.2838-5.108, P = 1.0000). This observation confers that genetic factors causing a decreased level of CD3-zeta in T cells may predispose to SLE incidence.

Oxysterols: 27-hydroxycholesterol and its radiolabeled analog.

We describe a convenient and stereoselective route to the synthesis of 27-hydroxycholesterol. Also its radiolabeled analog, 22, 23 di [(3)H]-27-hydroxycholesterol with high specific radioactivity (55 Ci/mmol) was synthesized by this method. Julia condensation of steroidal 22-sulfone with aldehyde, led to the addition of the 23-27 carbon side chain building block to the steroid backbone. Formed in this reaction beta-hydroxysulfone moiety was reduced by sodium amalgam generate 22-23 unsaturated bond. Further reduction either by hydrogen or tritium furnished substrates for the synthesis of title compounds.

The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in erythrocytes of rats with experimental neoplastic disease.

In erythrocytes of rats bearing Morris hepatoma 5123 the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase as well as the level of reduced glutathione increased on the 10th day after transplantation of the tumor. In the second phase of the tumor growth (20 days after transplantation), the activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and the level of reduced glutathione in erythrocytes of the experimental animals were lower than in controls, whereas the activity of superoxide dismutase was at that time higher than in controls. On the other hand, the activity of catalase did not significantly differ from that found in healthy rats.

The effect of an experimental neoplastic disease on the flux of sodium and potassium ions across red blood cells and on the lipid composition of their membranes.

The erythrocytes from Morris Hepatoma 5123 bearing rats took up Na+ and K+ ions from the incubation medium and released Na+ into the extracellular space at lower rates than did erythrocytes from intact control rats. The lipid composition of erythrocytes membranes from the tumor-bearing rats differed from that of membranes from unaffected rats, showing increased contents of phospholipid phosphorus and a decreased content of cholesterol, resulting in decreased cholesterol:phospholipid molar ratios.

[Glucosephosphate dehydrogenase activity and reduced glutathione level in the erythrocytes of children with lymphoblastic leukemia]. / Aktywnosc dehydrogenazy glukozo-6-fosforanowej i poziom zredukowanego glutationu w krwinkach czerwonych dzieci z ostra bialaczka limfoblastyczna.

The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and the level of reduced glutathione were determined in the erythrocytes of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia treated by intensive combined chemotherapy (according to the authors from Memphis). The determinations were done before, during and after completion of treatment lasting about 3 years. A significant rise was observed in the activity of this enzyme and in the level of reduced glutathione in the groups of treated children and their fall to normal values after completion of treatment.

[Glutathione reductase activity in erythrocytes of rats with transplantable Morris 5123 hepatoma]. / Aktywnosc reduktazy glutationowej w krwinkach czerwonych szczurów z przeszczepialnym watrobiakiem Morrisa 5123.

The activity of NADPH- and NADH-dependent erythrocyte glutathione reductase was determined in rats with Morris 5123 hepatoma at different stages of tumor development (10, 20, 30 and 40 days after transplantation). During the early stage of tumor growth the activity of glutathione reductase with either of these coenzymes was increased. In the late stage of the disease the activity of NADPH-dependent glutathione reductase fell below control values. The obtained results are discussed in the light of previous observations on the effects of this neoplasm on the metabolism of erythrocytes.

[Changes in the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and in the content of reduced glutathione in red blood corpuscles in the case of tumorous diseases in the maxillofacial region (author's transl)]. / Die Aktivitätsveränderungen der Glukose-6-phosphat-dehydrogenase und des Gehalts an reduziertem Glutathion der Erythrozyten bei Tumorerkrankungen im Kiefer-Gesichtsbereich.

The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and the glutathione content of red blood corpuscles were determined in twenty-five patients with tumors (of which nineteen were malignant and six, nonmalignant) as well as in a control group of twelve normal subjects. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was markedly higher in all of the tumor patients than it was in the controls. Also, the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was found to increase with the time of existence of an untreated tumor.--Increased glutathione contents were determined especially in the early stages of tumor development. In patients with a relatively long record of malignant and nonmalignant tumorous diseases as well as in normal subjects there was observed no or only an inconsiderable increase in the content of glutathione.--This method of examination is assuming considerable importance for the differential diagnosis of tumors located in the maxillofacial region.