Relationship between red blood cell antioxidant enzymatic system status and lipoperoxidation during the acute phase of malaria.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between oxidative stress and aggrevation of the disease in patients with malaria.


RESULTS
In the present study lipoperoxidation was demonstrated during the acute phase of malaria by a significant decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The lowest values of PUFA were obtained for C20:4 and C22:6, which were the main targets of reactive oxygen species (ROS) when parasitemia was higher than 1%. Similarly, plasma vitamins E and A were significantly reduced during the acute phase of malaria owing to their consumption in part as antioxidants. However, evaluation of the antioxidant enzymatic system in red blood cells of malaria patients indicated no significant difference from controls. Only superoxide dismutase activity tended to decrease when parasitemia increased.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that superoxide radicals are the main ROS produced during the acute phase of malaria, and that rejuvenation of RBC during hemolysis involving increased enzyme activities interacts to protect RBC from excessive superoxide radical production.
Delmas-Beauvieux
M C
MC
Laboratoire de Biochimie Médicale A, Université de Bordeaux II, France.
Peuchant
E
E
Dumon
M F
MF
Receveur
M C
MC
Le Bras
M
M
Clerc
M
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase