Measurement of Low-Molecular Weight Antioxidants, Uric Acid, Tyrosine and Tryptophan in Plaques and White Matter from Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

The levels of the antioxidants ascorbic acid, cysteine, reduced glutathione and a-tocopherol, of the free-radical marker uric acid and of the amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan were measured by means of high-pressure liquid chromatography in plaques, adjacent white matter and distant white matter from patients with multiple sclerosis, and in central nervous system tissue from patients without neurological diseases. Cholesterol and DNA were also determined, to check demyelination and cellularity. Uric acid was increased and glutathione correspondingly decreased in plaques; α-tocopherol was lowest in plaques and highest in distant white matter in all cases. Ascorbic acid, cysteine, tyrosine and tryptophan were not significantly changed in any tissue. The results provide evidence supporting the involvement of free radicals in multiple sclerosis.

Elevated cerebrospinal fluid uric acid during relapse of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

“…Some studies have suggested that serum or CSF UA levels decrease in MS (Dujmovic et al., 2009; Peng et al., 2008; Sotgiu et al., 2002), while others show increased UA and purine compounds in biological fluids of MS patients (Amorini et al., 2009; Langemann, Kabiersch, & Newcombe, 1992; Lazzarino et al., 2010). Min et al.…”

Antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids in multiple sclerosis

“…This could reflect a compensatory mechanism to defend cells against oxidative stress. In another study, decreased levels of GSH were measured in plaques from MS patients (Langemann et al, 1992). Moreover, decrease of reduced GSH and increase oxidised GSH and S-nitrosothiols were found in CSF samples of MS patients (Calabrese et al, 2002).…”

“…CSF vitamin E levels were not significantly different between MS patients during exacerbations as compared to controls, while serum levels of vitamin E indeed were lower in MS patients (Jimenez-Jimenez et al, 1998). In MS plaques, levels of glutathione (GSH) and vitamin E were significantly decreased as compared to adjacent and distant white matter (Langemann et al, 1992). From these studies, it can be concluded that systemic, CSF and brain tissue levels of several antioxidants indeed are altered in MS.…”

White-Matter Astrocytes, Axonal Energy Metabolism, and Axonal Degeneration in Multiple Sclerosis

“…There are indications that posttranslational oxidative modification of the enzyme may contribute to decreased CK-BB activity in the cerebral cortex in a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (Aksenov et al, 2000;Aksenov et al, 1999). In MS, there is increased production of reactive oxygen species, not only in focal inflammatory white-matter lesions (Langemann et al, 1992), Figure 1 (A) Schematic representation of the astrocyte phosphocreatine (PCr)-creatine (Cr) cycle. Mitochondrial creatine kinase (CK) ensures that adenosine triphosphate (ATP), produced by oxidative phosphorylation, is converted into PCr.…”