OXIDANT STRESS, ANTIOXIDANTS AND ESSENTIAL FATTY-ACIDS IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA and DHA respective ly) can suppress the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-2 and TNF (tumor necrosis factor) but not of IL-4 by human lymphocytes in vitro. In addition, the concentrations of EPA and DHA were also found to be low in the plasma phospholipid fraction of patients with SLE. In a lim ited clinical study performed by us earlier, it was observed that oral supplementation of EPA/DHA to patients with SLE can induce clinical r emission without any side-effects. Since oxygen free radicals are know n to be involved in the pathobiology of SLE, we estimated the plasma c oncentrations of lipid peroxides, nitric oxide, and anti-oxidants such as catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase and v itamin E in these patients both before and after the induction of remi ssion following EPA/DHA administration, These results showed that the levels of lipid peroxides are elevated and those of nitric oxide, SOD and glutathione peroxidase are decreased in SLE prior to EPA/DHA suppl ementation. Following EPA/DHA administration the concentrations of lip id peroxides, and those of nitric oxide, SOD and glutathione peroxidas e reverted to near normal levels. These results suggest that oxidant s tress, nitric oxide, and anti-oxidants play a significant role in SLE and that EPA/DHA can modulate oxidant stress and nitric oxide synthesi s and may have a regulator role in the synthesis of anti-oxidant enzym es such as SOD and glutathione peroxidase. From the results of this st udy, we would like to suggest that measurement of lipid peroxides, nit ric oxide and anti-oxidants can be used as markers to predict prognosi s in patients with SLE.