The glutathione defense system in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis

In order to assess a possible role of the natural glutathione defense syste m in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), serum reduced glutathio ne levels (GSH), glutathione reductase (GSR), glutathione S-transferase (GS T), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Ps) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activiti es, lipid peroxidation (MDA content) and indexes of inflammation were evalu ated in 58 rheumatic patients, Rheumatoid athritis was associated with sign ificant depletion (ca, 50%) in GSH levels compared with normal control subj ects. Serum levels of the detoxifying enzymes GSR and GSH-Px decreased by c a, 50% and 45%, respectively, whereas a threefold increase in the activity of GST was observed. A Id-fold increase in ALP was observed in patients wit h RA, These effects were accompanied by a 3.1-fold increase in serum MDA co ntent. The MDA content was higher in RA patients who were seropositive for rheumatoid factor as wed as positive for C-reactive proteins. The erythrocy te sedimentation rate for all patients with RA was approximately 13.8-fold higher than for the control group, and was higher among RA patients who wer e positive for C-reactive proteins and exhibited seropositivity for rheumat oid factor, Patients with RA receiving gold therapy exhibited significantly lower MDA levels whereas all other factors that mere measured mere not eff ected. The results support a hypothesis that defense mechanisms against rea ctive oxygen species are impaired in RA, Copyright (C) 2001 John Whey & Son s, Ltd.