[The effects of taurine on oxidative processes in brain edema].

AIM: To investigate the free radical oxidation of lipids, oxidative modification of protein activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase as well as the end product of nitric oxide - nitrite in the brain mitochondrial fraction of animals with experimentally induced cerebral edema and in treatment with taurine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Toxic brain edema was induced in rats with intraperitoneal injection of tetra-ethyl lead (10 mg per kg of animal weight). The intensity of peroxidation was evaluated by hydroperoxide and malonic aldehyde contents. RESULTS: An analysis of the levels of oxidative modification of proteins revealed that brain edema was characterized by increased levels of oxidative modification of proteins and lipids, nitrogen oxide, reduced glutathione content and decrease in the activity of enzymes containing glutathione (glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase). CONCLUSION: On this basis, we suggested that drugs increasing glutathione content and activating enzymes containing glutathione, for example taurine, could be used as medications. The introduction of taurine in dose of 50 mg/kg during 5 days led to the reduction of lipid peroxidation products, normalization of oxidative modification of proteins in the mitochondrial fraction of the rats with experimental cerebral edema.

[Study of gene expression of transcription factors T cells during aging].

The level of expression of transcription factor genes (GATA-3, TBX21, IL23A), and changing of oxidative modification of proteins in young and elderly healthy persons was studied. The results of evaluation of gene expression, GATA-3 in lymphocytes showed the increased expression of GATA-3 in elderly people in comparison with the young. Women demonstrated higher expression of GATA-3 in compare with men. Study of IL-2p showed reduced levels of expression in aged humans compared to young. TVH21 expression level showed a reduction expression in both men and women. Comparative analysis of protein oxidation in blood plasma of young and elderly people showed an increase in the intensity of oxidative modification of proteins in the elderly.

Quantitative analysis of phospholipids and gangliosides in bone marrow progenitors of lymphocytes, thymocytes and mature lymphocytes in tumor-bearing animals.

The phospholipid and ganglioside composition in bone marrow progenitors of lymphocytes, thymocytes and mature lymphocytes of intact rats and rats with sarcoma 45 were studied. The lymphocytes and their progenitors were isolated by Ficoll-Paque density centrifugation. The phospholipids and gangliosides were separated by thin-layer chromatography following standard chloroform:methanol extraction from the cells. Alterations in the lipid spectrum (both phospholipids and gangliosides) were shown to take place during lymphocyte differentiation. The rate of ganglioside sialylation diminished, which was expressed as an increase in mono- and di-, and a decrease in tri- and tetrasialoganglioside levels. Tumor-induced alterations in lymphocyte lipid composition involve all stages of lymphocyte differentiation. These shifts are believed to be connected with a disturbance of the antineoplastic function of lymphocytes and, consequently, the immune response of the tumor-bearing organism.

Evidence of oxidative stress in erythrocyte phospholipid composition in the pathogenesis of familial Mediterranean fever (periodical disease).

BACKGROUND: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a genetically linked disorder common amongst races of the Eastern Mediterranean region. Typical symptoms include episodic pain syndrome extending throughout the chest or abdomen associated with histopathological signs of amyloidosis of the kidney. AIM: To investigate possible connections between the aseptic inflammation that occurs during pain crises and cell membrane structural and functional integrity in patients with FMF. METHODS: Oxidative stress parameters in 42 patients in remission and during a pain crisis were compared with 21 normal subjects. RESULTS: The patient group had significantly greater concentrations of chemiluminescent and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in the blood plasma and lower concentrations of alpha-tocopherol than the control group while in remission; these changes were exacerbated during pain crises. Analyses of the phospholipid composition of erythrocyte membranes showed significant increases in amounts of acidic phospholipids (phosphatidic acid, monophosphatidylinositol and cardiolipin) and lysophosphatidylcholine compared with healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of differences in membrane phospholipid composition was consistent with increased oxidative stress in patients with FMF.

The effect of N-terminal fragments of immunophilin on phospholipid composition of rat brain.

Rat brain slices have been incubated in the presence of water-soluble synthetic peptide fragments corresponding to residues 1-9 and 1-15 of the N-terminus of immunophilin and the effects on the phospholipid composition examined. During a 2 h incubation in the presence of 1 nM, 0-1 mu M and 10 mu M concentrations of the peptides there were significant and dose-dependent decreases in the amounts of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine and increases in the amounts of phosphatidylserine and, to a lesser extent, phosphatidylinositol, cardiolipin and lysophosphatidylcholine. The overall decrease in the neutral phospholipids and increase in the acidic phospholipids tended to counteract any change in the phospholipid composition of the tissue. The results are discussed in terms of the possible effects of immunophilin on modulating phospholipid turnover in brain cell membranes.