title: Antioxidant status and glutathione metabolism in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oxidative stress could play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus infection. We investigated the oxidant/antioxidant status in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis C and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lipid peroxidation products and superoxide dismutase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were higher in chronic hepatitis C patients than in healthy subjects while glutathione S-transferase activity was reduced in patients as compared to controls. Catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were similar in chronic hepatitis C and normal individuals. No statistically significant differences were found between patients and controls with regard to glutathione levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but 35% of patients with chronic hepatitis C showed values of glutathione and oxidized glutathione which were below and above, respectively, the limits of normal controls. Finally, the glutathione synthetic capacity of the cytosol of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was significantly higher in patients than in controls, indicating increased glutathione turnover in lymphocytes from patients with chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oxidative stress is observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from chronic hepatitis C patients. This process might alter lymphocyte function and facilitate the chronicity of the infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Clinic, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boya
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de la Peña
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Beloqui
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Larrea
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conchillo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Castelruiz
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Civeira
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prieto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase; D005978:Glutathione