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This work focused on finding a relationship between acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities and the development and severity of COPD. The possible link of these enzymes to oxidative and inflammatory processes was also investigated. The study included 229 healthy controls and 153 COPD patients. Erythrocyte AChE and plasma BChE activities were determined using spectrophotometric methods. Markers related to the oxidative status including thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), total protein carbonyls (PCs), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), reduced glutathione, nitric oxide, and peroxynitrite were measured. We also evaluated the activity of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase in the plasma and erythrocytes. Serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. COPD patients showed increased AChE and BChE activities in comparison to healthy controls. Interestingly, AChE activity was higher in COPD smokers than in nonsmokers, while no difference was revealed for BChE. In addition, our results showed an inverse correlation between AChE activity and the levels of IL-6 in COPD smokers. Positive correlations were found, in COPD smokers, between plasma BChE activity and the levels of several biomarkers of protein oxidative damage including AOPP and PC. Our findings suggest that the alterations in AChE and BChE activities may be related to the oxidative and inflammatory processes in COPD patients rendering these enzymes as markers of COPD disease.

Background: The present study aimed to examine the role of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 [(-1171) 5A/6A; Lys45Glu (A/G)], MMP-7 [(-181) A/G] and MMP-12 [(-82) A/G; Asn357Ser (A/G)] variants in the development and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Tunisians., Methods: Plethysmography was performed in all participants to measure forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC parameters. Genotyping of MMP-3, MMP-7 and MMP-12 polymorphisms was carried out in 138 patients with COPD and 216 healthy controls using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Serum levels of MMPs and cytokines (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α) were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay., Results: No significant correlations were observed between genetic variations in MMP-3, MMP-7 and MMP-12 and the risk of development of COPD. Additionally, no impact of MMP-7 (-181) A/G and MMP-12 [(-82) A/G; Asn357Ser (A/G)] polymorphisms was observed on the respective protein levels and clinical parameters of the disease. Interestingly, both MMP-3 (-1171) 5A/6A and Lys45Glu (A/G) variants were associated with respiratory function, as well as with serum levels of MMP-3 in COPD patients. A relationship was found between the (-1171) 6A and 45Glu (G) alleles of the MMP-3 gene and enhanced airflow limitation among COPD patients. Additionally, carriers of the 6A6A and 45 GG genotypes present higher MMP-3 levels than noncarriers., Conclusions: MMP-3 (-1171) 5A/6A and Lys45Glu (A/G) polymorphisms were associated with the decline of lung function among COPD patients. These results could be linked to the upregulation of MMP-3 in serum from COPD patients carrying the (-1171) 6A and 45 G homozygous genotypes., (Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

This study aimed to investigate the effect of red orange juice supplementation (ROJS) on performance, cardiovascular parameters, muscle damage and oxidative stress markers of athletes following exercise under polluted air. Eleven soccer players performed a Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level-1 in polluted area (PA) and non-polluted area (NPA). Participants are invited to drink 500 ml of red orange or placebo (PLA) juice 2.5 h before the test. Blood samples were collected at rest and 3 min after each session to assess creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase, malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant status. Our results showed that, VO2max, heart rate and systolic blood pressure post-exercise were significantly altered by pollution with both supplements, but the damage was lowered more with ROJS than PLA. Concerning muscle damage and oxidative stress markers, orange juice supplementation blunted the effect of pollution on CK levels post-exercise (p > 0.05) and decreases significantly (p < 0.05) the MDA levels post-exercise in PA and NPA compared to PLA supplementation. In conclusion, ROJS seemed to be an appropriate strategy to reduce the risk of exposure to pollution especially on muscle damage and oxidative stress markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to determine the systemic oxidant-antioxidant status in Tunisian patients with asthma.Methods: We evaluated the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) as thiobarbituric acid complexes, total protein carbonyls (PCs) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP). The levels of total thiols, protein sulfhydryls, glutathione (GSH), together with hydrogen peroxide, ascorbic acid, iron and total antioxidant status (TAS) were colorimetrically estimated. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were assessed in plasma and erythrocytes by spectrophotometry. We also determined the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite in plasma from asthmatic patients and healthy controls. The volume of fractionated exhaled NO (FeNO) was evaluated by the Medisoft HypAir method. Estimation of DNA damage was determined using the comet assay.Results: Asthmatic patients showed increased levels of MDA in comparison to healthy controls (p < 0.001), while no significant difference was found in protein carbonyls (p = 0.79) and AOPP (p = 0.98). Patients with asthma also had significantly lower levels of total thiols (355.9 ± 15.72 versus 667.9 ± 22.65,p < 0.001), protein sulfhydryls (333.99 ± 16.41 versus 591.95 ± 24.28,p < 0.001) and glutathione (p < 0.001). They also showed decreased GSH-Px activity (p < 0.001), whereas no significant differences in measurements of catalase and SOD enzyme activities were observed between the two groups (respectively,p = 0.06 andp = 0.55). In addition, ascorbic acid and nitric oxide levels were decreased in asthmatics in comparison to controls (p < 0.01).Conclusions: Our findings highlight that oxidative stress and defective anti-oxidative status are major alterations in Tunisian patients with asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]