Systemic lupus erythematosus combined with Wilson's disease: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Wilson's disease (WD) are both systemic diseases that can affect multiple organs in the body. The coexistence of SLE and WD is rarely encountered in clinical practice, making it challenging to diagnose. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 9-year-old girl who initially presented with proteinuria, haematuria, pancytopenia, hypocomplementemia, and positivity for multiple autoantibodies. She was diagnosed with SLE, and her blood biochemistry showed elevated liver enzymes at the time of diagnosis. Despite effective control of her symptoms, her liver enzymes remained elevated during regular follow-up. Laboratory tests revealed decreased serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels, along with elevated urinary copper. Liver biopsy revealed chronic active hepatitis, moderate inflammation, moderate-severe fibrosis, and a trend towards local cirrhosis. Genetic sequencing revealed compound heterozygous mutations in the ATP7B gene, confirming the diagnosis of SLE with WD. The girl received treatment with a high-zinc/low-copper diet, but her liver function did not improve. Upon recommendation following multidisciplinary consultation, she underwent liver transplantation. Unfortunately, she passed away on the fourth day after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: SLE and WD are diseases that involve multiple systems and organs in the body, and SLE complicated with WD is rarely encountered in the clinic; therefore, it is easy to misdiagnose. Because penicillamine can induce lupus, it is not recommended. Liver transplantation is indicated for patients with liver disease who do not respond to medical treatment with WD. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal timing of liver transplantation for patients with SLE complicated with WD.

Targeting hepatic ceruloplasmin mitigates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by modulating bile acid metabolism.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a condition that progresses from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and is characterized by hepatic fat accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis. It has the potential to develop into cirrhosis and liver cancer, and currently no effective pharmacological treatment is available. In this study, we investigate the therapeutic potential of targeting ceruloplasmin (Cp), a copper-containing protein predominantly secreted by hepatocytes, for treating NASH. Our result show that hepatic Cp is remarkedly upregulated in individuals with NASH and the mouse NASH model. Hepatocyte-specific Cp ablation effectively attenuates the onset of dietary-induced NASH by decreasing lipid accumulation, curbing inflammation, mitigating fibrosis, and ameliorating liver damage. By employing transcriptomics and metabolomics approaches, we have discovered that hepatic deletion of Cp brings about remarkable restoration of bile acid (BA) metabolism during NASH. Hepatic deletion of Cp effectively remodels BA metabolism by upregulating Cyp7a1 and Cyp8b1, which subsequently leads to enhanced BA synthesis and notable alterations in BA profiles. In conclusion, our studies elucidate the crucial involvement of Cp in NASH, highlighting its significance as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of this disease.

Diagnosis and Outcomes of Late-Onset Wilson's Disease: A National Registry-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Wilson's disease (WD) is usually diagnosed in children and young adults; limited data exist on late-onset forms. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to characterize the clinical and paraclinical presentations, therapeutic management, and outcomes in patients with late-onset WD. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with WD after age 40 years were identified from the French Wilson's Disease Registry (FWDR). Clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings and treatment were reported at diagnosis and last follow-up. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were identified (median age: 49, range: 40-64) and placed in three groups according to their clinical presentation: neurological (n = 20, median diagnostic delay: 20 months), hepatic (n = 13, diagnostic delay: 12 months), and family screening (n = 12), all confirmed genetically. Six neurological patients had an atypical presentation (1 torticollis, 2 writer's cramps, 2 functional movement disorders, and 1 isolated dysarthria), without T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hyperintensities; 5 of 6 had no Kayser-Fleischer ring (KFR); 5 of 6 had liver involvement. In the neurological group, 84% of patients improved clinically, and 1 developed copper deficiency. In the hepatic group, 77% had cirrhosis; 6 patients required liver transplantation. In the screened group, 43% had mild liver involvement; 3 were not treated and remained stable; 24-h urinary copper excretion was normal in 33% of patients at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: In the FWDR, late-onset forms of WD affect 8% of patients, mostly with neurological presentations. Thirty percent of the neurological forms were atypical (isolated long-lasting symptoms, inconspicuous brain MRI, no KFR). With personalized treatment, prognosis was good. This study emphasized that WD should be suspected at any age and even in cases of atypical presentation. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Ceruloplasmin replacement therapy ameliorates neurological symptoms in a preclinical model of aceruloplasminemia.

Aceruloplasminemia is a monogenic disease caused by mutations in the ceruloplasmin gene that result in loss of protein ferroxidase activity. Ceruloplasmin plays a role in iron homeostasis, and its activity impairment leads to iron accumulation in liver, pancreas, and brain. Iron deposition promotes diabetes, retinal degeneration, and progressive neurodegeneration. Current therapies mainly based on iron chelation, partially control systemic iron deposition but are ineffective on neurodegeneration. We investigated the potential of ceruloplasmin replacement therapy in reducing the neurological pathology in the ceruloplasmin-knockout (CpKO) mouse model of aceruloplasminemia. CpKO mice were intraperitoneal administered for 2 months with human ceruloplasmin that was able to enter the brain inducing replacement of the protein levels and rescue of ferroxidase activity. Ceruloplasmin-treated mice showed amelioration of motor incoordination that was associated with diminished loss of Purkinje neurons and reduced brain iron deposition, in particular in the choroid plexus. Computational analysis showed that ceruloplasmin-treated CpKO mice share a similar pattern with wild-type animals, highlighting the efficacy of the therapy. These data suggest that enzyme replacement therapy may be a promising strategy for the treatment of aceruloplasminemia.

Is aceruloplasminemia treatable? Combining iron chelation and fresh-frozen plasma treatment.

We report the case of a patient with hereditary ceruloplasmin deficiency due to a novel gene mutation in ceruloplasmin gene (CP), treated with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and iron chelation therapy. A 59-year-old man with a past history of diabetes was admitted to our department due to progressive gait difficulties and cognitive impairment. Neurological examination revealed a moderate cognitive decline, with mild extrapyramidal symptoms, ataxia, and myoclonus. Brain T2-weighted MR imaging showed bilateral basal ganglia hypointensity with diffuse iron deposition. Increased serum ferritin, low serum copper concentration, undetectable ceruloplasmin, and normal urinary copper excretion were found. The genetic analysis of the CP (OMIM #604290) reported compound heterozygosity for two mutations, namely c.848G > A and c.2689_2690delCT. Treatment with FFP (500 mL i.v./once a week) and administration of iron chelator (Deferoxamine 1000 mg i.v/die for 5 days, followed by Deferiprone 500 mg/die per os) were undertaken. At the 6-month follow-up, clinical improvement of gait instability, trunk ataxia, and myoclonus was observed; brain MRI scan showed no further progression of basal ganglia T2 hypointensity. This case report suggests that the early initiation of combined treatment with FFP and iron chelation may be useful to reduce the accumulation of iron in the central nervous system and to improve the neurological symptoms.

Soft Tissue Regeneration under the Effect of Wound Coating Based on Chitosan (Natural Biopolymer).

We developed wound coating based on natural biopolymer chitosan with additional components (ceruloplasmin, L-asparaginic acid, and glycerol). Experiments on albino male rats demonstrated its regeneratory, antioxidant, and antibacterial effects on wounds involving all layers of the skin. Due to chemical composition and buffer component, the biodegraded wound coating optimizes all phases of the wound process, accelerates by 22-28% the reparative regeneration, and leads to anatomic and functional restoration of injured sites. High absorption capacity recommends its use in the treatment of wounds with profuse exudation.

Ceruloplasmin dysfunction and therapeutic potential for Parkinson disease.

Ceruloplasmin is an iron-export ferroxidase that is abundant in plasma and also expressed in glia. We found a ∼80% loss of ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity in the substantia nigra of idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD) cases, which could contribute to the pro-oxidant iron accumulation that characterizes the pathology. Consistent with a role for ceruloplasmin in PD etiopathogenesis, ceruloplasmin knockout mice developed parkinsonism that was rescued by iron chelation. Additionally, peripheral infusion of ceruloplasmin attenuated neurodegeneration and nigral iron elevation in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine mouse model for PD. These findings show, in principle, that intravenous ceruloplasmin may have therapeutic potential in PD.

Aceruloplasminemia: a rare disease - diagnosis and treatment of two cases

Aceruloplasminemia is a rare autosomal recessive disease in which a mutation leads to the absence or dysfunction of ceruloplasmin. Deficiency of this enzyme leads to the accumulation of iron in various organs; aceruloplasminemia is usually characterized by diabetes, retinal degeneration and neurological disorders. Diagnosis is suspected by the presence of elevated levels of ferritin, anemia, decreased serum copper and absence of ceruloplasmin in serum. Treatment of aceruloplasminemia is mainly based on the control of iron overload.

[Combination of antioxidants and a hepatoprotector in the treatment of patients with diabetic distal symmetric polyneuropathy].

The complex open randomized clinical, instrumental and biochemical research with including 89 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), complicated with distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DDSP) has been conducted. It is proved that the antioxidant "cocktail" application (Dialipon, Byocerulin, hepatoprotector with the antioxidant action Glutargin) contributes to the improvement of different levels of antioxidant defence, reduces free radical processes intensification, improves hepatocyte state which dysfunction is one of leading links of DDSP pathogenesis. These improves indirectly and directly the peripheral nerves functional state according electroneuromyography results, prevents DDSP progression and development of diabetic foot syndrome. Taking into account negative influence of Dialipon on the clinical parameters of DDSP with parallel intensification of free radical processes at decompensated DM in the early terms of treatment, Dialipon use is recommended after normalization of glycemia. At the same time the positive influence of Byocerulin has been noted regardless the compensation state of diabetes.

Ceruloplasmin protects injured spinal cord from iron-mediated oxidative damage.

CNS injury-induced hemorrhage and tissue damage leads to excess iron, which can cause secondary degeneration. The mechanisms that handle this excess iron are not fully understood. We report that spinal cord contusion injury (SCI) in mice induces an "iron homeostatic response" that partially limits iron-catalyzed oxidative damage. We show that ceruloplasmin (Cp), a ferroxidase that oxidizes toxic ferrous iron, is important for this process. SCI in Cp-deficient mice demonstrates that Cp detoxifies and mobilizes iron and reduces secondary tissue degeneration and functional loss. Our results provide new insights into how astrocytes and macrophages handle iron after SCI. Importantly, we show that iron chelator treatment has a delayed effect in improving locomotor recovery between 3 and 6 weeks after SCI. These data reveal important aspects of the molecular control of CNS iron homeostasis after SCI and suggest that iron chelator therapy may improve functional recovery after CNS trauma and hemorrhagic stroke.

[Experience in coenzyme Q10 application in complex therapy of coronary heart disease with dyslipidemia].

The subjects of the study were 43 patients with II- III functional class coronary heart disease (CHD) and dyslipidemia, who received conventional cardial therapy. The patients were divided into two groups: group I (26 subjects) received vasilip, a simvastatin generic, in a dose of 20 mg a day; group 11 (17 subjects) received vasilip in a dose of 20 mg a day plus cudesan in a dose of 1 ml a day, which contained 30 mg of ubiquinone Q 10 and 4.5 mg of alpha-tocopherol. Effects of the therapies on blood lipids, their peroxides, and the antioxidative status of blood were studied. After one month, vasilip was effective in achieving the target level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in 62% of group I patients and 65% of group II patients; at the same time, its use led to a significant increase in the level of primary and secondary lipid peroxidation (LP) products (25% and 29%, respectively), and lowering of the antioxidative status of blood, which consisted in a decrease in ceruloplasmin (CP) serum level and CP: transferrin (CP:TF) ratio by 6% in group I patients. The use of cudesan in combination with vasilip led to a significant decrease in the level of primary and secondary LP products (30% and 29%, respectively), and an increase in the level of serum CP by 25.7%, and CP: TF ratio by 12.5%.

Up-regulation of brain ceruloplasmin in thrombin preconditioning.

Pretreatment with low-dose thrombin attenuates brain edema induced by iron or intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Ceruloplasmin is involved in iron metabolism by oxidizing ferrous iron to ferric iron. The present study examines whether thrombin modulates brain ceruloplasmin levels and whether exogenous ceruloplasmin reduces brain edema induced by ferrous iron in vivo. In the first set of experiments, rats received intracerebral infusion of saline or 1 U thrombin into the right basal ganglia. Rats were killed 1, 3, or 7 days later for Western blot analysis and RT-PCR analysis. In the second set of experiments, rats received either ferric iron, ferrous iron, or ferrous iron plus ceruloplasmin, then were killed 24 hours later for brain edema measurement. We found that ceruloplasmin protein levels in the ipsilateral basal ganglia increased on the first day after thrombin stimulation and peaked at day 3. Brain ceruloplasmin levels were higher after thrombin infusion than after saline injection. RT-PCR showed that brain ceruloplasmin mRNA levels were also up-regulated after thrombin injection (p < 0.05). We also found ipsilateral brain edema after intracerebral infusion of ferrous iron but not ferric iron at 24 hours. Co-injection of ferrous iron with ceruloplasmin reduced ferrous iron-induced brain edema (p < 0.05). Our results demonstrate that thrombin increases brain ceruloplasmin levels and exogenous ceruloplasmin reduces ferrous iron-induced brain edema, suggesting that ceruloplasmin up-regulation may contribute to thrombin-induced brain tolerance to ICH by limiting the injury caused by ferrous iron released from the hematoma.

Differential effects and changes of ceruloplasmin in the hippocampal CA1 region between adult and aged gerbils after transient cerebral ischemia.

In this study, we examined the differential effects and changes of ceruloplasmin between adult and aged gerbil hippocampus after transient forebrain ischemia. Ceruloplasmin in the hippocampal CA1 region of adult and aged gerbils was significantly changed after ischemia/reperfusion. Whereas, it was not significantly changed in the CA2/3 region compared to the CA1 region after ischemia. Ceruloplasmin immunoreactivity and its protein level in aged gerbil CA1 region were higher than those in adult gerbil CA1 region. Ceruloplasmin in the CA1 region was highest in adult gerbils and aged gerbils at 24h and 12h after transient ischemia, respectively. At these time points, strong ceruloplasmin immunoreactivity was observed in CA1 pyramidal cells. Thereafter, ceruloplasmin was decreased with time after ischemia. Four days after ischemia/reperfusion, ceruloplasmin immunoreactivity in both adult and aged gerbils was expressed in astrocytes in the CA1 region. Ceruloplasmin treatment in adult ischemic gerbils showed strong protective effect against ischemic damage in CA1 pyramidal cells compared to that in aged ischemic gerbils. We conclude that ceruloplasmin early increases in the aged gerbil CA1 region compared to that of the adult gerbil CA1 region may be associated with the earlier induction of reactive oxygen species, and ceruloplasmin shows strong neuroprotective effects in adults compared to those in aged gerbils.

Ceruloplasmin prevents hemostatic disorders during experimental hyperammonemia.

Experimental hyperammonemia in rats was accompanied by hemostatic disorders manifesting in coagulopathy (activation of the intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation) and suppression of platelet function. Ceruloplasmin in a total dose of 60 mg/kg effectively normalized coagulation hemostasis and functional activity of platelets by improving secretory processes in platelets and increasing aggregation rate.

[Role of the antioxidant ceruloplasmin in complex intensive therapy for severe posthemorrhagic complications in cancer surgery].

The paper summarizes the results of 10 years' experience in using the biocompatible antioxidant ceruloplasmin in cancer patients to prevent and treat life-threatening complications in critical states caused by various complications after extensive surgical interventions for malignant tumors or massive intraoperative blood loss. Hemorrhagic shock-complicated intraoperative massive blood loss is shown to exert a significant damaging effect on the redox system, which correlates with the objectified severity of a critical condition and with the degree of experienced hypoxia. The use of ceruloplasmin in cancer patients with postoperative complications or massive intraoperative blood loss contributes to the recovery of the potential of the antioxidative defense system, to the correction of oxidative stress, acute multiple organ deficiency, and endotoxemia, and to the reduction of the incidence of pyoseptic complications.

[The influence of ceruloplasmin on the rat neocortical ultrastructure in circulatory hypoxia].

Diffuse cerebral ischemia and circulatory hypoxia were modeled by carotid arteries occlusion in 40 white Wistar male rats. The changes of microcirculation bed and neurons of the sensomotor cortical area in hypoxia, preventive and therapeutic regimes of ceruloplasmin injections were compared to the neocortex state of intact rats. The changes of the neocortical ultrastructure established by electron microscopy were characteristic of hypoxic lesions described earlier in the literature. As a result of prolonged administration of ceruloplasmin there was a significant decrease of sensomotor neocortical hypostasis and improvement of microcirculation that suggested its neuroprotective properties.

[The role of ceruloplasmin in neoplastic processes].

Ceruloplasmin (CP) is a copper containing oxidase of human plasma alpha 2-globulin fraction. The review summarizes literature data on biological role of CP under normal conditions and during development of malignant tumor. This protein may be involved both into antitumor deference and also into metastasizing process. Although CP has already been employed into intensive therapy of oncologic patients all mechanisms underlying its biological activity remain to be clarified.

A fungal multicopper oxidase restores iron homeostasis in aceruloplasminemia.

Mutations that lead to a loss of the copper-containing plasma enzyme ceruloplasmin disrupt mammalian iron homeostasis. The mechanism by which ceruloplasmin mobilizes iron from cell stores has been controversial. We demonstrate that injection of a soluble copper-containing yeast protein Fet3p can restore iron homeostasis in phlebotomized mice with a deletion of the ceruloplasmin gene. These results show the conservation of function of copper-containing proteins in eukaryotic iron metabolism.