Article
Association of homocysteine and inflammatory related molecules in sickle cell anemia
Registro en:
VILAS-BOAS, W. et al. Association of homocysteine and inflammatory related molecules in sickle cell anemia. Hepatology, 2015
1024-5332
Autor
Vilas-Boas, Wendell
Cerqueira, Bruno Antonio Veloso
Figueiredo, Camylla Vilas Boas
Santiago, Rayra Pereira
Guarda, Caroline Conceição da
Pitanga, Thassila Nogueira
Santana, Sanzio Silva
Zanette, Angela Maria Dias
Goncalves, Marilda de Souza
Resumen
Objective: Investigate the role of homocysteine (Hcy), Th17-related cytokines, and adhesion molecules in the
inflammatory state seen in the sickle cell anemia (SCA).
Methods: We studied the Hcy, interleukin (IL)-17, and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) cytokine levels of
62 SCA patients, as well as the expression levels of inflammatory and endothelial activation markers.
Results: We found significant associations between Hcy levels and increased expression of IL-17 and TGF-β
among SCA patients, and a positive significant correlation between Hcy and soluble vascular cellular
adhesion molecules (sVCAM). SCA individuals had raised IL-17 levels when compared with controls.
Discussion: These results suggest a possible role of Hyc in the induction of TGF-β and IL-17. Other authors
proposed that Hcy may contribute to the initiation and progression of vascular disease by monocyte
activation, resulting in the secretion of cytokines that amplify the inflammatory response. The role of Hcy in
cytokine production and oxidative stress in the endothelium may explain the increase of sVCAM
expression and, the vascular activation currently described among the SCA individuals with the highest
Hcy serum levels. The chronic inflammation was observed in hyperhomocysteinemic mice, with an
increased expression of VCAM-1 and plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, showing an
association of this inflammatory molecule and vascular changes.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the increased levels of IL-17,Hcy and sVCAM contributes contributes
to the vascular inflammation and activation presented by SCA patients, which probably have an important
role in vaso-occlusion. On the basis of the presented data, IL-17 and Hcy might be considered as
important components in the pathogenesis of SCA.