An evaluation of the relationship between vitamin D level and CTRP-9, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, thiol-disulfide hemostasis in women

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Many chronic diseases such as malignancy, cardiovascular diseases, endothelial dysfunction, and autoimmune diseases, which have been shown to be related to vitamin D in various studies; have similar relations with CTRP-9, TNFα, and thiol-disulfide hemostasis. We aimed to contribute to the literature by evaluating the relationship between CTRP-9, TNFα, and thiol-disulfide hemostasis and vitamin D levels, which we thought may have some effects on the pathogenesis of vitamin D deficiency. METHODS: In our study, 78 female volunteers older than 18 years were included. Volunteers were divided into three groups according to the reference values of vitamin D levels. Biochemical parameters, CTRP-9, TNFα, and thiol/disulfide hemostasis tests taken from all volunteers were studied. RESULTS: In this study, there was a significant difference in CTRP-9, TNFα, total thiol (TT), native thiol (NT), DIS (disulfide), TT/DIS, and NT/DIS levels in vitamin D groups (p<0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between vitamin D and TNFα and DIS, while a significant positive correlation was found with CTRP-9, TT, NT, TT/DIS, and NT/DIS (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was determined that vitamin D deficiency causes a significant decrease in CTRP-9 level and a significant increase in TNFα level, as well as an increase in thiol/disulfide hemostasis in favor of disulfide, which may be a risk factor for increased oxidative stress. We considered that these changes may play mediator roles for many chronic diseases and metabolic disorders that are increasing in frequency due to vitamin D deficiency.

Protective effects of silymarin against isotretinoin induced liver and kidney injury in mice

Isotretinoin (ISR), the common therapeuticagent for acne vulgaris, when used long term, leads to various side effects viz., oxidative toxicity, renal and hepatic dysfunction, depression, congenital abnormalities, aortic art defects, microcephaly, etc. Here, we explored the effects of silymarin (SLY), a flavonolignan from the seeds of the milk thistle Silybum marianum (L.) which has potential to protect the liver against chemical and environmental toxins and increase proliferation rate of tubule cells, against ISR induced liver and kidney injury. Thirty-two male Balb/c mice (3 months of age) were divided into four groups: control, isotretinoin (ISR, 40 mg/kg/day), silymarin (SLY, 200 mg/kg/day), and ISR+SLY group. We investigated liver and kidney injury by histopathological scoring system, and apoptotic cells labelled by TUNEL method. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were measured in serum samples biochemically. ALT and AST levels were increased in ISR group (P = 0.025, P = 0.003, respectively). SLY decreased those levels in ISR+SLY group (P = 0.002, P = 0.013, respectively). Liver tissues of ISR group showed interstitial edema and necrosis, alteration in shape and size of nuclei, mononuclear and kuppfer cell infiltration. Kidney tissues of ISR group showed tubular degeneration, necrosis, glomerular collapse, mononuclear cell infiltration, and hemorrhage. SLY improved those histopathological changes and suppressed apoptotic cell death. We suggest that silymarin might be beneficial to some extent by preventing the side effects induced by chronic ISR therapy in patients with acne vulgaris.