The effect of biomaterials and antifungals on biofilm formation by Candida species: a review.

Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis are able to form biofilms on virtually any biomaterial implanted in a human host. Biofilms are a primary cause of mortality in immunocompromised and hospitalized patients, as they cause recurrent and invasive candidiasis, which is difficult to eradicate. This is due to the fact that the biofilm cells show high resistance to antifungal treatments and the host defense mechanisms, and exhibit an excellent ability to adhere to biomaterials. Elucidation of the mechanisms of antifungal resistance in Candida biofilms is of unquestionable importance; therefore, this review analyzes both the chemical composition of biomaterials used to fabricate the medical devices, as well as the Candida genes and proteins that confer drug resistance.

Eryptosis and oxidative damage in type 2 diabetic mellitus patients with chronic kidney disease.

It has been suggested that oxidative stress may participate in the progression of diabetes and its complications. Long-term complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) include retinopathy, atherosclerosis, shortened life span of erythrocytes, nephropathy, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Oxidative damage has been associated with erythrocyte apoptosis induction in other pathological conditions. Our aim was to study the presence of eryptosis and its possible relationship with oxidative damage in patients with T2DM without CKD (T2DM/CKD(-)) and in patients with T2DM and CKD (T2DM/CKD(+)).Oxidative damage of lipids erythrocytes were increased in diabetic patients. The highest lipoperoxidation was found in T2DM/CKD(+). Likewise, the lower plasma total antioxidant capacity, GSH/GSSG ratio, and GSH in erythrocytes were found in T2DM/CKD(+) patients. A negative correlation was found between plasma total antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage. Phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization was measured in erythrocytes to evaluate eryptosis. Annexin binding in erythrocytes of T2DM/CKD(+) patients was higher than in healthy subjects and T2DM/CKD(-) patients. A positive correlation between lipoperoxidation and PS externalization in erythrocytes was found. This work showed that the erythrocytes of diabetic patients have increased oxidative damage, a reduction of antioxidant systems and more erythrocyte PS externalization. The duration of diabetes and the presence of CKD increase both oxidative damage and eryptosis. It is possible that a longer time of evolution induces an increase in erythrocyte oxidative damage and the consumption of blood antioxidant systems, adding to the osmotic stress in CKD and so contributes to an increase in PS externalization in diabetic patients.

Oxidative damage increases intracellular free calcium [Ca2+]i concentration in human erythrocytes incubated with lead.

One important effect of lead toxicity in erythrocytes consists of increasing [Ca(2+)](i) which in turn may cause alterations in cell shape and volume and it is associated with cellular rigidity, hemolysis, senescence and apoptosis. In this work, we proposed the use of erythrocytes incubated with Pb(2+) to assess association of the mechanisms of lead erythrocyte oxidative damage and calcium homeostasis. Lead incubation produced an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) dose- and time-dependent, which mainly involved Ca(2+) entry mechanism. Additionally, in this in vitro model alterations similar to erythrocytes of lead-exposed workers were produced: Increase in Ca(2+) influx, decrease in (Ca(2+)-Mg(2+))-ATPase activity and GSH/GSGG ratio; increase in lipoperoxidation, protein carbonylation and osmotic fragility accompanied of dramatic morphological changes. Co-incubation with trolox, a soluble vitamin-E analog is able to prevent these alterations indicating that lead damage mechanism is strongly associated with oxidative damage with an intermediate toxic effect via [Ca(2+)](i) increase. Furthermore, erythrocytes oxidation induced with a free radical generator (APPH) showed effects in [Ca(2+)](i) and oxidative damage similar to those found in erythrocytes incubated with lead. Co-incubation with trolox prevents the oxidative effects induced by AAPH in erythrocytes. These results suggest that increase of [Ca(2+)](i) depends on the oxidative status of the erythrocytes incubated with lead. We consider that this model contributes in the understanding of the relation between oxidative damage induced by lead exposure and Ca(2+) homeostasis, the consequences related to these phenomena and the molecular basis of lead toxicity in no excitable cells.

Effects of lead intoxication on intercellular junctions and biochemical alterations of the renal proximal tubule cells.

Lead intoxication is a worldwide health problem which frequently affects the kidney. In this work, we studied the effects of chronic lead intoxication (500 ppm of Pb in drinking water during seven months) on the structure, function and biochemical properties of rat proximal tubule cells. Lead-exposed animals showed increased lead concentration in kidney, reduction of calcium and amino acids uptake, oxidative damage and glucosuria, proteinuria, hematuria and reduced urinary pH. These biochemical and physiological alterations were related to striking morphological modifications in the structure of tubule epithelial cells and in the morphology of their mitochondria, nuclei, lysosomes, basal and apical membranes. Interestingly, in addition to the nuclei, inclusion bodies were found in the cytoplasm and in mitochondria. The epithelial cell structure modifications included an early loss of the apical microvillae, followed by a decrement of the luminal space and the respective apposition and proximity of apical membranes, resulting in the formation of atypical intercellular contacts and adhesion structures. Similar but less marked alterations were observed in subacute lead intoxication as well. Our work contributes in the understanding of the physiopathology of lead intoxication on the structure of renal tubular epithelial cell-cell contacts in vivo.

Vitamin-E reduces the oxidative damage on delta-aminolevulinic dehydratase induced by lead intoxication in rat erythrocytes.

Lead intoxication induces oxidative damage on lipids and proteins. In the present paper we study in vivo and in vitro the antioxidant effect of vitamin-E and trolox, on the oxidative effects of lead intoxication in rat erythrocytes. Vitamin-E simultaneously administered to erythrocytes treated with lead was capable to prevent the inhibition of delta-aminolevulinic dehydratase activity and lipid oxidation. Partial but important protective effects were found when vitamin-E was administered either after or before lead exposure in rats. In vitro, the antioxidant trolox protected delta-ALA-D activity against damage induced by lead or menadione. These results indicate that vitamin-E could be useful in order to protect membrane-lipids and, notably, to prevent protein oxidation produced by lead intoxication.

Intracellular free calcium concentration and calcium transport in human erythrocytes of lead-exposed workers.

Erythrocytes are the route of lead distribution to organs and tissues. The effect of lead on calcium homeostasis in human erythrocytes and other excitable cells is not known. In the present work we studied the effect of lead intoxication on the uptake and efflux (measured as (Ca(2+)-Mg(2+))-ATPase activity) of calcium were studied in erythrocytes obtained from lead-exposed workers. Blood samples were taken from 15 workers exposed to lead (blood lead concentration 74.4+/-21.9 microg/dl) and 15 non-exposed workers (9.9+/-2 microg/dl). In erythrocytes of lead-exposed workers, the intracellular free calcium was 79+/-13 nM, a significantly higher concentration (ANOVA, P<0.01) than the one detected in control (30+/-9 nM). The enhanced intracellular free calcium was associated with a higher osmotic fragility and with important modifications in erythrocytes shape. The high intracellular free calcium in lead-exposed workers was also related to a 100% increase in calcium incorporation and to 50% reduction of (Ca(2+)-Mg(2+))-ATPase activity. Lipid peroxidation was 1.7-fold higher in erythrocytes of lead-exposed workers as compared with control. The alteration on calcium equilibrium in erythrocytes is discussed in light of the toxicological effects in lead-exposed workers.

Effect of lead on the calcium transport in human erythrocyte.

In this paper we study the calcium uptake in the erythrocyte, a non-excitable cell. This uptake is performed through a passive transport system with two kinetic components (Michaelis-Menten and Hill). The uptake of calcium seems to be driven by voltage through its electrophoretical effect. Lead is capable of inhibiting calcium uptake in a non-competitive manner. As it has been described in other systems, lead is also capable of inhibiting calcium efflux by inhibiting Ca(Mg)-ATPase. Under physiological conditions, the function of ATPase reduces the effect of lead on calcium influx. However, in chronic intoxication a small increment of intracellular calcium is observed, indicating that lead is affecting calcium efflux mainly. We discuss the effects of lead on calcium equilibrium in erythrocytes.