Antioxidant enzymatic activities in human blood cells after an allergic reaction to pollen or house dust mite.

Several diseases have been related to oxidative stress. Recently, antioxidant functions have also been linked to anti-inflammatory properties. Cell defenses against reactive oxygen species include antioxidant enzymes. We studied the enzymatic antioxidant capacity in human blood of both red blood and mononuclear cells from patients suffering from an allergic reaction to pollen or house dust mite. We determined superoxide dismutases (SODs), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and catalase (CAT) activities in each cell type. We also determined the extent of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), in order to study the correlation between the cellular enzymatic activities, the redox status and the disease. In mononuclear cells from allergic patients, SODs and CAT activities were enhanced compared to controls. Conversely, a decrease in GSHPx activity was found. In erythrocytes, higher values for GSHPx and SODs and similar CAT activities were found in allergic patients and controls. Interestingly, CuZnSOD and MnSOD activities were enhanced in the same proportion for both, erythrocytes and mononuclear cells. TBARS were also enhanced in both types of cells. The respective enzymatic imbalances in mononuclear cells and erythrocytes, namely, GSHPx/SOD and CAT/SOD, and their consequences are discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first global study of antioxidant enzymes, including TBARS level determinations, in allergy.