title: Erythrocyte caspase-3 levels in children with chronic kidney disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In chronic kidney disease (CKD), a number of intra- and extracellular factors, e.g., uremic toxins, mechanic, oxidative or osmotic stress - induce changes (rearrangements) in the structure of cytoplasmatic membrane, while also simultaneously deregulating blood cell metabolism and, in consequence, contributing to preliminary ageing and suicidal death of red blood cells (RBCs).The aim of the reported study was an evaluation of caspase-3 and lactate dehydrogenase activities and of ATP concentrations in erythrocytes as cellular responses to CKD progress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Conservatively treated sixty (60) CKD children were enrolled into the study and divided, according to CKD progression (stage I-IV). The control group consisted of twenty-five (25) healthy children. The activity of caspase-3 (Casp-3) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were spectrophotometrically assayed in haemolysed erythrocytes. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP(e)) concentrations were measured by means of a luciferin-luciferase kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A gradual increase of LDH and ATP levels was observed in transition from CKD stage I to stage III. In Group IV, the levels of those parameters were statistically significantly lower than in the control group. The activity of Casp-3 in Group I was comparable to that in healthy children. The highest activity of Casp-3 was observed in Group III.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1. The activity of caspase-3 in RBCs of CKD children grows with progression of the disease. 2. The lower LDH activities and the ATP concentration drop below the values characteristic for the control group, as observed in stage IV of CKD, indicate a compromised energy balance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Nephrology, Wroclaw Medical University, ul. Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland. dorota.polak-jonkisz@am.wroc.pl
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Polak-Jonkisz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Purzyc
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szcepańska
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Makulska
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D057075:Enzyme Assays; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008156:Luciferases / Q000032:analysis; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D003404:Creatinine; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D008156:Luciferases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3