Positive Health Online

Abstract

CHEN and COLLEAGUES, Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang-Gung University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. chengm@mail.cgu.edu.tw  investigated the relationships between oxidative damage, decreased anti-oxidant capacity in blood cells and severity of Parkinson's Disease (PD) symptoms.

Background

Increased oxidative stress contributes to neuronal dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methodology

We investigated whether the pathological changes in PD brains may also be present in peripheral tissues. Leukocyte 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and plasma vitamin E (Vit E) were measured for 211 PD patients and 135 healthy controls.

Results

Leukocyte 8-OHdG and plasma MDA were elevated, whereas erythrocyte GPx and plasma Vit E were reduced in PD patients when compared to the controls. After adjusting for environmental factors, logistic regression analysis showed that PD severity was independently correlated with 8-OHdG and MDA level, and inversely correlated with GPx activity and Vit E level. Leucocyte 8-OHdG level was continuously increased with advanced PD Hoehn-Yahr stages, while plasma MDA level peaked at early disease stages, among PD patients.

Conclusion

These results suggest increased oxidative damage and decreased anti-oxidant capacity in peripheral blood, and a significant correlation between leucocyte 8-OHdG level and disease severity in PD.

References

Chen CM, Liu JL, Wu YR, Chen YC, Cheng HS, Cheng ML and Chiu DT. Increased oxidative damage in peripheral blood correlates with severity of Parkinson's disease. Neurobiology of Disease.  33(3): 429-35, Mar 2009.