title: Increased reactive oxygen species and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by monocytes are associated with elevated levels of uric acid in pre-eclamptic women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate associations between hyperuricemia and increases in production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in pre-eclamptic pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigated serum uric acid levels, monocyte production of TNF-α, superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in erythrocytes from 30 women with pre-eclampsia (PE) compared with 30 normotensive (NT) pregnant women in the last trimester of pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum uric acid levels (6.1 versus 2.8 mg/dL) as well as endogenous O(2)(-) (2.2 versus 1.6 nm), H(2)O(2) (1.8 versus 1.4 nm) and TNF-α (91.6 versus 40.4 pg/mL) released from monocytes were significantly higher in the pre-eclamptic group than in the NT group (P < 0.05). SOD activity in erythrocytes was also significantly elevated in the PE group (5969.2 versus 4834.7 U/g Hb). No significant difference between groups was observed in relation to CAT activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated serum uric acid levels are correlated with higher O(2)(-) and TNF-α production by monocytes in women with PE. This may contribute to the enhanced oxidative and inflammatory state characteristic of this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biociences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil. peracoli@ibb.unesp.br
authors.forename: Maria T S
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Peraçoli
authors.forename: Camila F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Bannwart
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cristofalo
authors.forename: Vera T Medeiros
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Roberto A Araújo
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Witkin
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Peraçoli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000097:blood; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D013481:Superoxides / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013481:Superoxides; D014527:Uric Acid; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase