[Activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and concentrations of malonyldialdehyde, vitamin E, total antioxidant status and extracellular cytokines concentrations in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)].

UNLABELLED: THE AIM of this study was to measure oxidative status (MDA) and antioxidant defence (Zn-Cu SOD, GPX, Vitamin E and TAS) in peripheral blood of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and assess the influence of oxidative-antioxidative balance on extra cellular IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, TNF-alpha and INF gamma concentration.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The study group consisted of 17 children, diagnosed as having acute lymphoblastic leukemia and admitted to our department between February and December 2004. There were 11 boys and 6 girls, median age of this group was 4.2 years (range 0.5-12 years). Control group, consisted of 15 children (8 males and 7 females) age 2-13 (median age 4.8).

RESULTS

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in erythrocytes, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were estimated using kits Randox Laboratories Ltd. Vitamin E and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in plasma were measured fluorimetrically. Cytokine levels in plasma were assessed using Human Th1/Th2 Cytokine CBA kit (BD Biosciences Pharmingen, San Diego, CA). Two samples were taken from every patient: the first before therapy was started and the second after 5-6 weeks of therapy. The results were calculated and presented using Statistica 6.1 software. SOD and GPX activity in children with ALL was higher before and during treatment then in control subjects. However, differences were statistically significant only between GPX activity in children during treatment comparing to controls (p=0.03). MDA levels were higher in leukaemia group then in controls (p<0.05). IL-10 level was found to be higher in five cases.

CONCLUSIONS

In children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, abnormalities in oxidative-antioxidative balance are observed. Lipid peroxidation is increased. GPX activity is higher during treatment. Influence of these abnormalities on cytokine release needs further studies.