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Evaluation of antioxidant systems in pituitary-adrenal axis diseases

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Abstract

The role of adrenal steroids in antioxidant regulation is not known. Previously, we demonstrated some Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) alterations in pituitary diseases, which can induce complex pictures due to alterations of different endocrine axes. Therefore we determined CoQ10 and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) in pituitary-dependent adrenal diseases: 6 subjects with ACTH-dependent adrenal hyperplasia (AH); 19 with secondary isolated hypoadrenalism (IH), 19 with associated hypothyroidism (multiple pituitary deficiencies, MPH). CoQ10 was assayed by HPLC; TAC by the system metmyoglobin-H2O2, which, interacting with the chromogenous 2,2I-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate), generates a spectroscopically revealed radical compound after a latency time (Lag) proportional to the antioxidant content. CoQ10 levels were significantly lower in IH than AH and MPH, with a similar trend when adjusted for cholesterol. Also TAC was lower in IH than in AH and MPH, suggesting that adrenal hormones can influence antioxidants. However, since thyroid hormones modulate CoQ10 levels and metabolism, when thyroid deficiency coexists it seems to play a prevalent influence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chair of Endocrinology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy

    A. Mancini, E. Leone, V. Di Donna, L. De Marinis & A. Pontecorvi

  2. Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    A. Silvestrini & E. Meucci

  3. Department of Molecular Pathology, “Università Politecnica delle Marche” School of Medicine, Ancona, Italy

    R. Festa

  4. Institute of Biochemistry, “Università Politecnica delle Marche” School of Medicine, Ancona, Italy

    G. P. Littarru

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  1. A. Mancini
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Correspondence to A. Mancini.

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Mancini, A., Leone, E., Silvestrini, A. et al. Evaluation of antioxidant systems in pituitary-adrenal axis diseases. Pituitary 13, 138–145 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-009-0213-z

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