Redox biomarker levels in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogeneous clonal disorder characterized by insufficient hematopoiesis, peripheral blood cytopenia and an increased risk for malignant transformation to acute myeloid leukemia. Several factors, such as age, sex and lifestyle, promote the development of MDS syndrome. Oxidative stress, along with its detrimental effects, cause hematological disorders; however, its role in the pathogenesis of MDS is unknown. The present study enrolled 50 patients with MDS and 50 additional healthy individuals to assess the endogenous antioxidant defense system by measuring specific redox biomarkers at the time of diagnosis. Glutathione (GSH) levels, catalase (CAT) activity and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured in red blood cells, whereas levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and protein carbonyls were measured in the plasma. A decrease in GSH levels, increased TBARS levels and TAC levels were observed in patients with MDS compared with healthy volunteers, supporting the hypothesis that oxidative stress disturbance could promote MDS.