Blood Thiol Redox State in Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

Thiols (sulfhydryl groups) are effective antioxidants that can preserve the correct structure of proteins, and can protect cells and tissues from damage induced by oxidative stress. Abnormal levels of thiols have been measured in the blood of patients with moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared to healthy subjects, as well as in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. The levels of protein thiols (a measure of the endogenous antioxidant capacity inversely related to protein oxidation) and S-thiolated proteins (mixed disulphides of protein thiols and low molecular mass thiols), and the protein thiolation index (the molar ratio of the S-thiolated proteins to free protein thiols in plasma) have been investigated in the plasma or red blood cells of CKD and ESRD patients as possible biomarkers of oxidative stress. This type of minimally invasive analysis provides valuable information on the redox status of the less-easily accessible tissues and organs, and of the whole organism. This review provides an overview of reversible modifications in protein thiols in the setting of CKD and renal replacement therapy. The evidence suggests that protein thiols, S-thiolated proteins, and the protein thiolation index are promising biomarkers of reversible oxidative stress that could be included in the routine monitoring of CKD and ESRD patients.

How Aging and Oxidative Stress Influence the Cytopathic and Inflammatory Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: The Role of Cellular Glutathione and Cysteine Metabolism

“…These latter include the transcriptional and metabolic processes associated with adaptive homeostasis mechanisms discussed earlier in Section 2 , and these defects are exacerbated in case of premature aging and oxidative stress induced by chronic and degenerative ailments. For example, in chronic kidney disease, defects in the cellular levels of reduced pyridine nucleotides and GSH metabolism are associated with poor capacity to prevent oxidative damages of blood cells and to restore the extracellular redox [ 41 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]; even more evident is the case of chronic respiratory syndromes that induce defects in the levels of lung GSH and in the redox buffering of protein Cys (reviewed in [ 7 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 49 ] and references therein). Worthy of note is the fact that such prototypical examples of chronic ailments, and others associated with oxidative stress, are included in the comorbidity that increases the risk of severe COVID-19 [ 6 , 50 ].…”

The Hydroalcoholic Extract of Nasturtium officinale Reduces Lung Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in an Ovalbumin-Induced Rat Model of Asthma

“…The nonenzymatic antioxidants include vitamins A, C, and E, bilirubin, and glutathione, while the enzymatic ones comprise glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT); taking into account that the enzyme defense system is the first rapid line of defense against ROS [ 20 , 21 ]. Total Thiol sulfhydryl (TSH) is an effective antioxidants that can preserve the correct structure of proteins, and can protect cells and tissues from damage induced by oxidative stress [ 22 ]. Free radicals can damage all macromolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids [ 19 ].…”

Indoxyl Sulfate Induces Oxidative Changes in Plasma and Hemolysate

“…Oxidative stress accompanies CKD, and the presence of ROS in the plasma of hemodialyzed patients has been demonstrated experimentally [15]. In patients with CKD, a significant decrease in the level of the thiol groups in proteins has also been shown [16,17]. The studies by Pieniazek and Gwozdzinski also showed conformational changes in hemolysate proteins in patients with CKD [16].…”