Glutathione redox cycle in small intestinal mucosa and peripheral blood of pediatric celiac disease patients

• Published in: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências Vol. 84; no. 1; pp. 175 - 184
• Main Authors: Stojiljković, Vesnać, Pejić, Snezana, Kasapović, Jelena, Gavrilović, Ljubicać, Stojiljković, Stanimirć, Nikolić, Draganć, Pajović, Snezana B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Ciências 01.03.2012
• Subjects: Adolescent; antioxidant enzymes; Case-Control Studies; celiac disease; Celiac Disease - blood; Celiac Disease - enzymology; Child; Child, Preschool; doença celíaca; enzimas anti-oxidantes; Female; glutathione; Glutathione Peroxidase - metabolism; Glutathione Peroxidase - physiology; Glutathione Reductase - metabolism; Glutathione Reductase - physiology; glutatião; Humans; Infant; Intestinal Mucosa - metabolism; Intestine, Small - metabolism; Lipid Peroxides - blood; Male; MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES; Oxidative Stress - physiology; peroxidação de lipídios; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; enzimas anti-oxidantes; peroxidação de lipídios; glutathione; celiac disease; antioxidant enzymes; doença celíaca; glutatião
• ISSN: 0001-3765; 1678-2690; 1678-2690; 0001-3765
• DOI: 10.1590/S0001-37652012000100018

The celiac disease is an autoimmune gastrointestinal disorder caused by gluten from wheat, rye or barley. In genetically predisposed persons, gluten induces the immune-mediated inflammation of small intestinal mucosa. Histological lesions include intraepithelial lymphocytosis, crypt hypertrophy and villous atrophy, resulting in malabsorption of micro- and macronutrients. The only treatment for celiac patients is a permanent gluten-free diet (GFD). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress are strongly associated with the celiac disease. Glutathione (GSH) is a main detoxifier of endogenous and exogenous ROS in the intestine. In order to explain the role of glutathione redox cycle in celiac patients, we examined the activities of GSH-related antioxidant (AO) enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR), as well as the concentration of GSH in small intestinal biopsies and peripheral blood of children affected by the celiac disease. The concentration of lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) as markers of oxidative damage was measured in the same samples. The results clearly demonstrate a significant malfunction of GSH redox cycle with a concomitant decrease in the capacity to regenerate GSH and detoxify LOOH in celiac patients, even after several years of GFD. The oral administration of GSH and a diet rich in natural antioxidants, as well as appropriate dietary supplements, could be of great benefit to the patients.