The results suggest that change in antioxidant enzyme activities may be relevant to the ability of the liver and other investigated organs to cope with oxidative stress during CCl4 poisoning.

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Cyclosporine A is an immunosuppressive drug used after organ's transplantation. The adverse effects on such organs as kidney or liver may limit its use. Oxidative stress is proposed as one of the mechanisms of organs injury. The study was designed to elucidate CsA-induced changes in liver function, morphology, oxidative stress parameters, and mitochondria in rat's hepatocytes. Male Wistar rats were used: group A (control) receiving physiological saline, group B cyclosporine A in a dose of 15 mg/kg/day subcutaneously, and group C the CsA-vehicle (olive oil). On the 28th day rats were anesthetized. The following biochemical changes were observed in CsA-treated animals: increased levels of ALT, AST, and bilirubin in the serum, statistically significant changes in oxidative stress parameters, and lipid peroxidation products in the liver supernatants: MDA+4HAE, GSH, GSSG, caspase 3 activity, and ADP/ATP, NAD+/NADH, and NADP+/NADPH ratios. Microscopy of the liver revealed congestion, sinusoidal dilatation, and focal hepatocytes necrosis with mononuclear cell infiltration. Electron microscope revealed marked mitochondrial damage. Biochemical studies indicated that CsA treatment impairs liver function and triggers oxidative stress and redox imbalance in rats hepatocytes. Changes of oxidative stress markers parallel with mitochondrial damage suggest that these mechanisms play a crucial role in the course of CsA hepatotoxicity.

The most common cause of chronic pancreatitis (CP) is alcohol abuse. The aim of the present study was to identify patients with genetic predisposition to CP abusing alcohol. The question posed was whether CP manifests at a younger age and diabetes mellitus develops earlier in individuals with genetic predisposition. The study encompassed 79 patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (ACP) and control group (100 persons). The following mutations were determined: R122H and N29I of PRSS1 and N34S of SPINK1 as well as E366K and E288V of SERPINA 1. No R122H and N291 mutations were observed in the group of ACP patients and in controls. Moreover, there was no E288V mutation. In 79 ACP patients, six SPINK 1 (N34S/wt) mutations were observed. In the control group, one heterozygous SPINK 1N34S gene mutation was found (P = 0.0238). Two PiZ mutations were identified in patients with ACP and one analogical mutation in controls. Amongst patients with ACP as well as SPINK1 and PiZ mutations, the onset of disease was observed earlier and developed earlier. The prevalence of SPINK1 mutation is higher in patients with ACP than in healthy populations. This mutation together with the effects of alcohol accelerates the development of ACP and of diabetes mellitus.

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Cyclosporin A is an immunosuppressant drug used to prevent graft rejection in organ transplantation. Side effects include toxicity to the kidney and liver. Recently, many experimental and clinical data have demonstrated that CsA-induced toxicity is associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation in the kidney and liver. The aim of the study was ultrastructural examination of renal and liver epithelial cells in the course of chronic experimental CsA treatment. Rats were treated with CsA in a dose of 25 mg/kg/day. Animals developed failure of the kidney and the liver functions manifested by an increase in serum levels of creatinine, urea, uric acid, bilirubin, AST, and ALT and a decrease in total proteins. Ultrastructural examination of tubular epithelial cells and hepatocytes revealed dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum and injury to mitochondria, formation of autolysosomes, and presence of single apoptotic cells. On the basis of a review of the literature the authors suggest that mitochondrial and cell membrane system changes are, at least in part, a result of oxidative damage to the liver and renal tubular epithelial cells.

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