Evaluation of systemic oxidative status and mononuclear leukocytes DNA damage in children with caustic esophageal...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Oxidative Stress Research
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Accidental caustic ingestion in children frequently leads to esophageal stricture (ES).
• Chronic inflammation and repeated dilatations contribute to the progression of ES.
• Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms, including oxidative stress and DNA damage, is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the oxidative status and DNA damage in children diagnosed with esophageal stricture.
• To compare these markers between pediatric patients with ES and age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
• To explore the potential implications of these findings for therapeutic interventions.

Main Methods:

• Plasma oxidative status was assessed by measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and total peroxide (TP) levels.
• Plasma anti-oxidative status was evaluated through catalase (CAT) activity and total antioxidant response (TAR) measurements.
• DNA strand breaks in peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes were quantified using the Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (Comet Assay).

Main Results:

• Patients with ES exhibited significantly elevated plasma MPO activity and TP levels compared to healthy controls.
• No significant differences were observed in CAT activity or TAR between the ES group and the control group.
• While DNA damage was higher in the ES group, this difference did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric patients with esophageal stricture experience systemic oxidative stress and alterations at the nuclear level.
• These molecular changes are likely associated with repeated tissue injury and dilatations.
• The findings support the potential therapeutic benefit of antioxidant treatments for children with ES.