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Gender differences in oxidative and nitrosative stress parameters in kidney transplant patients on tacrolimus-based immunosuppression

  • Nephrology - Original Paper
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Abstract

Background

Cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality rates are still higher after kidney transplantation than in general population. It is known that oxidative and nitrosative stress may contribute to the progress of CV disease in a post-transplant period, but still gender aspect has not been elucidated completely. The aim of this study was to analyze the gender differences in the oxidative and nitrosative stress parameters, as well as asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) levels among kidney transplant patients on tacrolimus-based immunosuppression.

Methods

Our research included 35 patients (20 men and 15 women) with renal transplant and 25 healthy volunteers. Patients were on chronic immunosuppressive regimen, which included tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone. In order to estimate oxidative and nitrosative stress, we determined plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), activity of catalase (CAT), levels of total (protein and non-protein) sulfhydryl (SH) groups, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), ADMA and SDMA, as well as nitrite/nitrate (NOx) ratio.

Results

TBARS, CAT and SH in plasma were significantly higher in male patients than in female patients (p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). There were no gender-dependent differences in AOPP, ADMA, SDMA and NOx in kidney transplant patients. Correlation analysis, Pearson and Spearman, showed significant correlations between tested oxidative and nitrosative stress parameters in male kidney transplant patients. Alternatively, in female patients, there were no significant correlations between tested parameters.

Conclusion

Our findings show that men might be more prone to oxidative damage than women. ADMA, the proven marker of CV morbidity and mortality, may be more significant in male kidney transplant patients concerning oxidative stress control of its level and function.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grant of Ministry of Science and Technological Development of Serbia—Project Number 41018.

Conflict of interest

The results presented in this paper have not been published previously in whole or part, except in abstract form. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Bulevar dr Zorana Djindjica 81, 18000, Nis, Serbia

    Tatjana P. Cvetkovic, Ivana R. Stojanovic & Dusica D. Pavlovic

  2. Clinic of Nephrology, Clinical Centre Nis, Nis, Serbia

    Tatjana P. Cvetkovic, Radmila M. Velickovic-Radovanovic, Goran J. Paunovic & Vidojko M. Djordjevic

  3. Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia

    Nikola Z. Stefanovic & Radmila M. Velickovic-Radovanovic

  4. Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia

    Dijana R. Stojanovic

Authors
  1. Tatjana P. Cvetkovic
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  2. Nikola Z. Stefanovic
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  3. Radmila M. Velickovic-Radovanovic
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  4. Goran J. Paunovic
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  5. Vidojko M. Djordjevic
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  6. Dijana R. Stojanovic
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  7. Ivana R. Stojanovic
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  8. Dusica D. Pavlovic
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tatjana P. Cvetkovic.

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Cvetkovic, T.P., Stefanovic, N.Z., Velickovic-Radovanovic, R.M. et al. Gender differences in oxidative and nitrosative stress parameters in kidney transplant patients on tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. Int Urol Nephrol 46, 1217–1224 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-013-0577-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-013-0577-x

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