Serum chitotriosidase levels in cancer patients undergoing high dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: Human chitotriosidase (ChT) is an active chitinase expressed by activated phagocytes. Increased ChT activity has been reported in systemic Candida albicans infections and in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial infections, indicating that an increase in ChT activity reflects phagocyte activation. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in serum ChT activity in patients who underwent high dose chemotherapy (HDC) and stem cell transplantation (SCT), who are at an increased risk for fungal and bacterial infections due to depression of the immune system during the neutropenic period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 55 SCT patients were included in the study. Serum ChT activity was determined before the initiation of HDC and during the neutropenic period after hematopoietic stem cell reinfusion on post-transplant first, fifth and tenth days. RESULTS: Chitotriosidase levels before transplantation were significantly lower than the results at first, fifth and tenth days post-hematopoietic stem cell reinfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of neutrophils was low, ChT enzyme activity was high in newly produced granules of neutrophils. Chitotriosidase may be supplemented as a drug for preventing and treating infections in the near future.

The protective effects of taurine on experimental acute pancreatitis in a rat model.

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of taurine (Tau) on experimental acute pancreatitis (AP) in a rat model by measuring cytokines and oxidant stress markers. Forty rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham, AP, Tau and AP + Tau. AP was induced with sodium taurocholate. No treatment was given to the AP. All rats were killed 5 days later. Pancreatic tissues of rats and blood samples were obtained. Tau treatment significantly decreased serum amylase activity (p < 0.001), total injury score (p < 0.001), malondialdehyde levels (p < 0.001) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the Tau and AP + Tau groups in serum and pancreatic tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6 levels (p = 1.000). Histopathologic scores in the AP + Tau and Tau groups were significantly lower compared with the AP group (both p < 0.001). These results showed that Tau reduces lipid peroxidation, amylase and MPO activities and the concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines secondary to AP and also increases superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in rats with sodium taurocholate-induced AP. It also has a marked ameliorative effect at histopathologic lesions. With these effects, Tau protects the cells from oxidative damage, reduces inflammation and promotes regression of pancreatic damage.