Nitric oxide production and nitric oxide synthase expression in platelets from heroin abusers before and after ultrarapid detoxification

Assessment of oxidative stress of platelets among chronic heroin and hashish addicts

INTRODUCTION

Illicit drugs abuse is associated with several clinical life-threatening consequences that are primarily mediated by oxidative damage to multiple cellular components with a subsequent cellular dysfunction and death. Primarily, this study aimed to investigate oxidative stress to protein and lipid components of circulatory platelets among chronic heroin and hashish addicts.

METHODS

Platelet lysates were prepared from 20 chronic intravenously administrated heroin addicts and 20 chronic smoked hashish addicts. For comparative purposes, two control groups of 20 cigarette smokers and 20 nonsmokers were included in the study. Oxidative stress to platelet's proteins and lipids was investigated using carbonyl group contents assay and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay, respectively.

RESULTS

In comparison to control groups, carbonyl group contents and TBARS concentration were significantly higher among heroin addicts but not among hashish addicts. Both of these markers were significantly correlated to the duration of addiction but not to the daily administrated dose. While in regard of the timing of the latest administrated dose (TLAD), only carbonyl group contents were significantly correlated to the TLAD.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the contribution of drug's route of administration, drug's pharmacokinetics, and kinetics of circulatory platelet, we concluded that chronic heroin addiction is associated with significant levels of oxidative stress to platelet's proteins and lipids. Due to the high proteomic contents of platelets, protein's oxidative stress is more prominent compared to lipids. Chronic hashish smoking is not associated with significant levels of oxidative stress in platelet's proteins and lipids.

Evaluation of prooxidant-antioxidant balance in chronic heroin users in a single assay: an identification criterion for antioxidant supplementation

BACKGROUND

Opiate abuse has been linked to oxidative stress, through the separate evaluation of oxidants and antioxidants.

OBJECTIVES

To determine prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) in chronic heroin users in a single assay, easily applied in a clinical setting. Specifically, to examine whether PAB values correlate with the duration of abuse or with the presence of anti-HCV antibodies.

METHODS

Sixty-four chronic heroin users - 34 cases and 30 controls - participated in this study. PAB was determined by an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, developed by members of the study group.

RESULTS

In heroin users, oxidative balance was disrupted in favor of prooxidants. There was no correlation of PAB values with the duration of abuse or with the presence of anti-Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic heroin users can benefit from an antioxidant therapy, and the method currently presented can be used as an identification criterion.

Antioxidant status in different regions of heroin addicts' brain

Heroin is an illicit narcotic abused by millions of people worldwide. In the present work, we estimated peroxyl radical-trapping capacity (PRTC), oxidative stress markers - malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl groups, as well as antioxidant enzymes - superoxide dismutase and catalase, in different regions of brain. Studies conducted on nine brains from heroin abusers and eight from control subjects revealed a decrease in PRTC in each part of heroin intoxicated brains and an increase in lipid peroxidation in brain cortex, brain stem and white matter but not in hippocampus. Protein oxidation was increased in hippocampus and in brain stem, but it was unchanged in gray and white matters. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were unchanged in heroin addicts. We conclude that heroin intoxication changes the antioxidant status in human brain by increasing the amount of organic rather then inorganic peroxides. The most severe condition of oxidative stress occur in brain stem.

Nitrosoglutathione modulation of platelet activation and nitric oxide synthase expression in promotion of flap survival after ischemia/reperfusion injury1

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have shown that platelets play an important role in the pathogenesis of reperfusion injury. Using an inferior epigastric artery skin flap as a flap ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury model, we investigated whether the administration of a nitric oxide (NO) donor, nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), could decrease platelet activation and modulate the NO synthase (NOS) activity of platelets and promote flap survival.

METHODS

Thirty minutes before flap reperfusion, normal saline (1 mL), nitrosoglutathione (GSNO 0.2, 0.6, 3 mg/kg), or N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (450 mg/kg) was injected intravenously in 10 rats, respectively. The p-selectin (CD62P) expression of platelet activation was detected by a flow cytometry. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to investigate the CD62P deposition on the microvasculature of the flap vessels. NOS isoform expression in the platelets was evaluated by Western blot. Tissue perfusion was monitored by using laser-Doppler flowmetry. Survival areas were assessed at 7 days postoperatively

RESULTS

An optimal dose of GSNO (0.6 mg/kg), significantly decreased in CD62P expression on platelets (P < 0.001) and its deposition on the flap vessels, selectively suppressed iNOS induction of platelet, and significantly improved blood perfusion and the flap survival rate (59.8 +/- 4.9% versus 22.1 +/- 6.1%, P < 0.001). In contrast, the NO synthase inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, although inhibiting iNOS expression of platelets, compromised platelet activation, tissue perfusion, and flap survival.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that GSNO can appropriately donate NO to suppress platelet activation and platelet iNOS induction, resulting in less platelet activation, better blood perfusion, and flap survival after I/R injury.