title: Alpha-tocopherol content and alpha-tocopherol transfer protein expression in leukocytes of children with acute leukemia.
abstract: Alpha-tocopherol (a form of vitamin E) is a fat-soluble vitamin that can prevent lipid peroxidation of cell membranes. This antioxidant activity of alpha-tocopherol can help to prevent cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis and cancer. We investigated the alpha-tocopherol level and the expression of alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (alpha-TTP) in the leukocytes of children with leukemia. The plasma and erythrocyte alpha-tocopherol levels did not differ between children with leukemia and the control group. However, lymphocytes from children with leukemia had significantly lower alpha-tocopherol levels than lymphocytes from the controls (58.4 +/- 39.0 ng/mg protein versus 188.9 +/- 133.6, respectively; p < 0.05), despite the higher plasma alpha-tocopherol/cholesterol ratio in the leukemia group (5.83 +/- 1.64 micromol/mmol versus 4.34 +/- 0.96, respectively; p < 0.05). No significant differences in the plasma and leukocyte levels of isoprostanes (the oxidative metabolites of arachidonic acid) were seen between the leukemia patients and controls. The plasma level of acrolein, a marker of oxidative stress, was also similar in the two groups. Investigation of alpha-TTP expression by leukocytes using real-time PCR showed no difference between the two groups. These findings suggest that there may be comparable levels of lipid peroxidation in children with untreated leukemia and controls, despite the reduced alpha-tocopherol level in leukemic leukocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiryo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Misaki
authors.forename: Kimitaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takitani
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogihara
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuno
authors.forename: Naohisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Munenori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Toshimasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamai
mesh_terms: D000171:Acrolein / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D028421:Isoprostanes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007938:Leukemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D028421:Isoprostanes; C017763:alpha-tocopherol transfer protein; D000171:Acrolein; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol