Activated neuro-oxidative and neuro-nitrosative pathways at the end of term are associated with inflammation and physio-somatic and depression symptoms, while predicting outcome characteristics in mother and baby.

OBJECTIVES: To examine oxidative & nitrosative stress (O&NS) biomarkers at the end of term in relation to perinatal affective symptoms, neuro-immune biomarkers and pregnancy-related outcome variables. METHODS: We measured plasma advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), total radical trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP), -sulfhydryl (-SH), peroxides (LOOH) and paraoxonase (PON)1 activity in pregnant women with and without prenatal depression and non-pregnant controls. RESULTS: Pregnancy is accompanied by significantly increased AOPP and NOx, and lowered TRAP, -SH and LOOH. Increased O&NS and lowered LOOH and -SH levels are associated with prenatal depressive and physio-somatic symptoms (fatigue, pain, dyspepsia, gastro-intestinal symptoms). Increased AOPP and NOx are significantly associated with lowered -SH, TRAP and zinc, and with increased haptoglobin and C-reactive protein levels. Increased O&NS and lowered TRAP and PON 1 activity, at the end of term predict mother (e.g. hyperpigmentation, labor duration, caesarian section, cord length, breast milk flow) and baby (e.g. sleep and feeding problems) outcome characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy is accompanied by interrelated signs of O&NS, lowered antioxidant defenses and activated neuro-immune pathways. Increased O&NS at the end of term is associated with perinatal depressive and physio-somatic symptoms and may predict obstetric and behavioral complications in mother and baby.

Parkinson's Disease is Accompanied by Intertwined Alterations in Iron Metabolism and Activated Immune-inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Pathways.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a complex interplay between peripheral and central inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways. OBJECTIVE: To investigate immune-inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways in relation to iron metabolism in peripheral blood of PD patients and healthy controls. METHOD: We recruited 56 healthy individuals and 56 PD patients in stages 1-3 of Hoehn and Yahr Scale. Plasma haptoglobin (Hp), homocysteine, interleukin 6, soluble interleukin 6 receptor, iron (Fe), ferritin, total iron binding capacity, transferrin (Tf), soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), malondialdehyde (MDA) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) were measured. RESULTS: PD was associated with significant changes in Tf (lowered), sTfR, ferritin, Hp, interleukin 6 and MDA (all increased) levels, while there was a trend towards a negative association with PON1. Logistic regression showed that the most significant biomarkers of PD were MDA, sTfR, Hp and ferritin. Moreover, Fe levels were negatively associated with Hp and positively with PON1, total iron binding capacity and Tf, while ferritin and sTfR were positively associated with MDA levels. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates a state of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress in PD patients coupled with alterations in Fe metabolism. Chronic inflammation and oxidative pathways in PD may in part determine changes in iron metabolism. New drug treatments for PD should target inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways and iron metabolism as well.