title: Elevated levels of xanthine oxidase in serum of patients with inflammatory and autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
abstract: Sera of patients with various inflammatory and autoimmune rheumatic diseases were screened for the presence of xanthine oxidase (XOD) and compared to sera from healthy donors and patients with nonrheumatic diseases including AIDS, internal diseases, and different carcinomas. Up to 50-fold higher levels of XOD were detected in rheumatic sera (P < 0.001). In addition, serum sulfhydryls (SH) were determined as sensitive markers of oxidative stress. The SH status in rheumatic patients was diminished by 45-75% (P < 0.001) and inversely correlated to the concentration of serum XOD (R = 0.73), suggesting a causal interrelation. The depletion of serum sulfhydryls by the oxyradical-producing XOD/acetaldehyde system was mimicked successfully ex vivo in human serum from healthy donors. Cortisone treatment of patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis impressively normalized elevated XOD concentrations in rheumatic sera to those of healthy controls. The participation of xanthine oxidase in the depletion of serum antioxidants in rheumatic patients is discussed in the light of substrate availability and Km values.
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Rheumaforschungszentrum, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miesel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zuber
mesh_terms: D000079:Acetaldehyde / Q000097:blood; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003348:Cortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000494:pharmacology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D012545:Schiff Bases / Q000494:pharmacology; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012545:Schiff Bases; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C007121:copper thionein; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; C064004:N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethylene)-1,4-butanediamine (N,N',N'',N''')-Cu(II)diperchlorate; D008668:Metallothionein; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D000079:Acetaldehyde; D010100:Oxygen; D003348:Cortisone