Antioxidant enzymatic activities in human blood cells after an allergic reaction to pollen or house dust mite

Several diseases have been related to oxidative stress. Recently, antioxida nt functions have also been linked to anti-inflammatory properties. Cell de fenses against reactive oxygen species include antioxidant enzymes. We stud ied the enzymatic antioxidant capacity in human blood of both red blood and mononuclear cells from patients suffering from an allergic reaction to pol len or house dust mite. We determined superoxide dismutases (SODs), glutath ione peroxidase (GSHPx) and catalase (CAT) activities in each cell type. We also determined the extent of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA RS), in order to study the correlation between the cellular enzymatic activ ities, the redox status and the disease. In mononuclear cells from allergic patients, SODs and CAT activities were enhanced compared to controls. Conv ersely, a decrease in GSHPx activity was found. In erythrocytes, higher val ues for GSHPx and SODs and similar CAT activities were found in allergic pa tients and controls. Interestingly, CuZnSOD and MnSOD activities were enhan ced in the same proportion for both, erythrocytes and mononuclear cells. TE ARS were also enhanced in both types of cells. The respective enzymatic imb alances in mononuclear cells and erythrocytes, namely, GSHPx/SOD and CAT/SO D, and their consequences are discussed, To our knowledge, this is the firs t global study of antioxidant enzymes, including TEARS level determinations , in allergy. (C) Academic Press.