Measurement of the total antioxidant response using a novel automated method in subjects with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Mehmet Horoz,Fusun F Bolukbas,Necla Gunaydin,Ozcan Erel,Tevfik Sabuncu,Mehmet Aslan,Serpil Sarifakiogullari,Cengiz Bolukbas

doi:10.1186/1471-230x-5-35

Abstract

BackgroundOxidative stress, an increase in oxidants and/or a decrease in antioxidant capacity, is one of the potential biochemical mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. We aimed to investigate the total antioxidant response using a novel automated method in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis subjects. As a reciprocal measure, we also aimed to determine total peroxide level in the same plasma samples.MethodsTwenty-two subjects with biopsy proven nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and 22 healthy controls were enrolled. Total antioxidant response and total peroxide level measurements were done in all participants. The ratio percentage of total peroxide level to total antioxidant response was regarded as oxidative stress index.ResultsTotal antioxidant response of subjects with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis was significantly lower than controls (p < 0.05), while mean total peroxide level and mean oxidative stress index were higher (all p < 0.05).In subjects with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, fibrosis score was significantly correlated with total peroxide level, total antioxidant response and oxidative stress index (p < 0.05, r = 0.607; p < 0.05, r = -0.506; p < 0.05, r = 0.728, respectively). However, no correlation was observed between necroimflamatory grade and those oxidative status parameters (all p > 0.05).ConclusionNonalcoholic steatohepatitis is associated with increased oxidant capacity, especially in the presence of liver fibrosis. The novel automated assay is a reliable and easily applicable method for total plasma antioxidant response measurement in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Highlights

Oxidative stress, an increase in oxidants and/or a decrease in antioxidant capacity, is one of the potential biochemical mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
In subjects with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), significant increases in both total peroxide level and oxidative stress index (OSI) were accompanied with significant decreases in total antioxidant response (TAR) compared to control subjects
In the presence of increased total peroxide level, a decrease in TAR indicates to a high degree of oxidative stress

Summary

Introduction

An increase in oxidants and/or a decrease in antioxidant capacity, is one of the potential biochemical mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The efficacy of several antioxidant agents on hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in subjects with NASH has been investigated in several small, open-label studies [15,16,17]. In all of these studies, those antioxidant agents exerted beneficial effects in improving necroinflammatory activity or fibrosis or both. These findings are suggestive for the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of NASH

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