[Genetic and biochemical mechanisms of involvement of antioxidant defense enzymes in the development of bronchial asthma]

Proteomic analysis of blood serum - a new approach to the search for diagnostic markers of bronchial asthma in children

Currently, bronchial asthma (BA) is one of the most pressing medical and social problems, the molecular aspects of the formation and development of BA are insufficiently studied and the diagnosis is not perfect. Carrying out proteomic analysis of BA will not only reveal new biomarkers specific to this disease, but also bring us closer to understanding its pathogenetic mechanisms. The purpose of the study: to study the proteomic profile of blood serum of children with BA to identify proteins associated with this disease A comprehensive clinical and laboratory examination of children suffering from BA and control group patients was performed. Proteomic analysis of depleted blood serum included high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (1 direction: immobiline strips 17cm, pH 3-10, 2 direction: denaturing electrophoresis in 12.5% polyacrylamide gel), protein staining on gels with fluorescent dye Flamingo, protein identification by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry using the search algorithm Mascot and the Swiss-Prot database. Comparison of the proteomic profile of BA serum and the control group patients serum allowed us to establish that the production of a number of proteins is reduced in this pathology. Among them, proteins in the molecular weight range of 16-33 kDa (p<0.05) were identified: glutathione peroxidase 3, transtyretin, complement components C4b and C3. Research shows that changes in the children's serum proteome occur in BA, affecting proteins that play an important role in immune responses, ligand transport, and antioxidant protection. Special attention should be paid to the differences identified in the course of this work (glutathione peroxidase, transtyretin, C3 and C4 fragments of the complement system) or their combinations. Studying the features of their expression will expand our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying chronic inflammation of this disease.

Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the CYBA gene with coal workers' pneumoconiosis in the Han Chinese population

Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) is caused by long-term exposure to inhaled coal dust; it is likely influenced by the interaction between environmental factors and multiple susceptibility genes, such as the CYBA (cytochrome b-245α polypeptide) gene that has recently been identified to be involved in the genetic susceptibility for several pulmonary diseases. The aim of this case-control study was to explore the association between CYBA gene polymorphisms and the development of CWP in coal miners belonging to the Han ethnic group in China. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs7195830, rs13306296, rs4673, rs9932581, and rs16966671 of the CYBA gene were analyzed in CWP patients (n = 652) and dust-exposed control subjects (n = 648) using the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) on the Sequenom MassARRAY® platform (Sequenom, San Diego, CA, USA). Results from the present study showed a strong allele association between CWP patients and the CYBA SNP rs7195830 polymorphism (p < .001, OR = 1.550). Using the additive and the dominant model, the CYBA SNP rs7195830 polymorphism also showed significant associations with CWP patients (p < .001, OR = 1.621; p = .003, OR = 1.711, respectively). No statistically significant difference was demonstrated in either the allele or genotype frequencies of the other four examined SNPs (rs13306296, rs4673, rs9932581, and rs16966671) between the CWP group and dust-exposed control group (all p > .05). The present study is the first to have demonstrated an association between CYBA (rs7195830) polymorphism and the risk of developing CWP in subjects belong to the Han ethnic group in China and provides further clues for research into the pathogenesis of CWP.

Recent developments in the role of reactive oxygen species in allergic asthma

Allergic asthma has a global prevalence, morbidity, and mortality. Many environmental factors, such as pollutants and allergens, are highly relevant to allergic asthma. The most important pathological symptom of allergic asthma is airway inflammation. Accordingly, the unique role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) had been identified as a main reason for this respiratory inflammation. Many studies have shown that inhalation of different allergens can promote ROS generation. Recent studies have demonstrated that several pro-inflammatory mediators are responsible for the development of allergic asthma. Among these mediators, endogenous or exogenous ROS are responsible for the airway inflammation of allergic asthma. Furthermore, several inflammatory cells induce ROS and allergic asthma development. Airway inflammation, airway hyper-responsiveness, tissue injury, and remodeling can be induced by excessive ROS production in animal models. Based on investigations of allergic asthma and ROS formation mechanisms, we have identified several novel anti-inflammatory therapeutic treatments. This review describes the recent data linking ROS to the pathogenesis of allergic asthma.