Local and Systemic Oxidative Stress in Balkan Endemic Nephropathy Is Not Associated with Xanthine Oxidase Activity

Abstract

Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) represents a chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy which is followed by the progression of kidney fibrosis to end-stage kidney failure. The critical involvement of poisons in food (aristolochic acid (AA), ochratoxin, and heavy metals) and selenium deficiency are among nutritive factors which contribute to the pathogenesis of BEN, due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) liberation and/or decreased antioxidative defence system. The aim of the study is to distinguish a possible systemic and local origin of ROS through the measurement of xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in urine and plasma, along with the determination of the oxidative changes in lipids and proteins. The study included 50 patients with BEN and 38 control healthy subjects. We noted increased levels of both thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) in the plasma of patients with BEN, compared to the control group (p<0.001). The urinary levels of AOPPs were higher in patients with BEN in comparison to the control (p<0.001). The specific activity of XO was significantly lower in plasma and urine in BEN samples, compared to controls (p<0.005). Based on these results, we hypothesize that XO might not be considered a direct systemic or local contributor to ROS production in BEN, most probably because of the diminished kidney functional tissue mass and/or AA-induced changes in purine nucleotide conformation. The increased AOPP and TBARS level in both plasma and urine in BEN may predict ROS systemic liberation with toxic local effects.

Oxidative Stress in End-Stage Renal Disease: Pathophysiology and Potential Interventions

“…OS, fibrosis, and inflammation are thought to play a role in the development and progression of BEN, but existing data are limited. Veljkovic et al performed a cross-sectional study including 50 patients diagnosed with BEN and 38 healthy controls and found that, compared to controls, BEN patients exhibited significantly increased systemic lipid and protein oxidation status, assessed by plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), respectively [ 10 ]. However, in urine, only AOPP levels were significantly higher compared to controls; the urine local lipid oxidation state was not different among groups, probably due to the reduced urine lipid content.…”