[ADF/thioredoxin as an indicator of oxidative stress]

Serum ADF was measured in patients with Crush syndrome and various rheumatic diseases by a sensitive sandwich ELISA. Serum ADF level of healthy subjects was highest in 30- to 40-year-olds, and decreased with age. The level was significantly higher in males than females. Crush syndrome patients with an unfavorable prognosis showed markedly high serum ADF level. Serum ADF was significantly increased in patients with SLE, Sjögren's syndrome, and RA. In RA patients, serum ADF was negatively correlated with serum CRP which reflects disease activity. Next, we investigated polymorphisms of Glutathione S-transferase (GST), which is thought to prevent oxidation of lipids and DNA. We have found that the incidence of GSTM1/GSTT1 double null genotypes was significantly increased in SLE patients compared with that in normal subjects. When serum ADF levels were compared among SLE patients, significantly higher ADF was observed in double null patients. Many kinds of oxidative stress are known to attack the immune systems and to bring out inflammation and autoimmunity. The abnormal regulation of ADF system seem to be closely related to such disorders.