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Author Spotlight: Innovating Thiol Quantification and Biomarker Detection for Oxidative Stress Research
Published on: June 28, 2024
Oxidative stress due to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection upregulates
Ahmad Qasem1, Ahmad Abdel-Aty1, Huda Abu-Suwa1
1Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, 4110 Libra Drive, Orlando, FL USA.
Objective:
This study was designed to determine the relationship between Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection and selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, in the blood of humans and cattle infected with MAP.
Design:
MAP infection status and GPx activity were determined in sera from 42 cattle, a group of 27 patients with Crohn's disease and 27 of their healthy biological relatives, and a group of 66 subjects with various diseases other than Crohn's disease and 34 non-related healthy subjects.
Results:
GPx activity was significantly higher overall in the case of MAP infection in both humans and cattle. The mean value for GPx activity was 1.59 ± 0.65 units/ml in MAP positive cattle compared to 0.46907 ± 0.28 units/ml in healthy cattle sera, where a unit was defined as one mmol/minute (P < 0.01). The mean value of the GPx activity in MAP negative humans clinical sera was 0.42367 ± 0.229 units/ml compared to 0.80941 ± 0.521 in MAP positive sera in a study comparing Crohn's disease patients to their healthy relatives. The mean activity in MAP negative humans was 0.4702 ± 0.1299 compared to 0.6510 ± 00.1665 units/ml in positive samples in a randomized field study of 100 subjects.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrated a strong correlation between MAP and the elevation of GPx activity. This was especially evident in Crohn's patients, which further supports the association of MAP and Crohn's disease. GPx activity may also be used to predict MAP infection status and to show that Crohn's disease patients who are infected with MAP have higher tendency to develop oxidative stress than Crohn's disease patients who are negative for the bacteria.
Insights
Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection is strongly correlated with increased selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in both humans and cattle. This finding supports the association between MAP and Crohn's disease, suggesting GPx activity may indicate infection and oxidative stress.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Human Medicine
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is a pathogen implicated in various diseases.
- Selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is a key antioxidant enzyme.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between MAP infection and GPx activity in humans and cattle.
- To explore GPx activity as a potential biomarker for MAP infection and associated oxidative stress.
Main Methods:
- MAP infection status and GPx activity were assessed in serum samples from cattle, Crohn's disease patients, their relatives, and control subjects.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare GPx activity levels between MAP-positive and MAP-negative individuals.
Main Results:
- GPx activity was significantly elevated in MAP-infected cattle and humans compared to their MAP-negative counterparts.
- MAP-positive cattle showed mean GPx activity of 1.59 ± 0.65 units/ml versus 0.469 ± 0.28 units/ml in healthy cattle.
- MAP-positive human sera exhibited higher GPx activity (0.809 ± 0.521 units/ml) compared to MAP-negative sera (0.423 ± 0.229 units/ml) in Crohn's disease patients.
Conclusions:
- A strong correlation exists between MAP infection and elevated GPx activity.
- Increased GPx activity in Crohn's disease patients may indicate MAP infection and heightened oxidative stress.
- GPx activity shows potential as a predictive marker for MAP infection status.
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