We have investigated glycoconjugates sialization profile, endogen synthesis rate of antiganglioside antibodies (AGA), IL-6 signaling pathways correlated with activity disease in systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN). Material and methods. A case-control study was developed and included 109 patients with SLE with or without renal impairment, 32 patients with IgA nephropathy and 60 healthy volunteers, clinically and paraclinically monitored. The following parameters were evaluated in volunteers serum: total sialic acid (TSA), orosomucoids, lipid bound sialic acid (LSA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble factors IL-6R, gp130, anti –GM1, -GM2, -GM3, -GD1a, -GD1b, -GT1b, -GQ1b antigangliosides antibodies of IgG and IgM type. Results. Experimental data analysis showed: increase in synthesis rhythm of sialoglyco-conjugated in SLE (TSA increased in SLE and LN compared to control), accelerated catabolism of LSA in LN (LSA/TSA ratio was higher in SLE and LN than in control group), overexpression of IL-6 mediated trans-signaling (sIL-6R/sgp 130 ratio was subunit in SLE and IgA nephropathy and superunit in LN), large AGA profile synthesis of IgM isotype (over 45.1% in SLE and over 20.7% in LN). Conclusions. Hypersialization, accelerated glycosphingolipids degradation, IL-6 trans-signaling amplify and AGA pattern could represent essential mechanisms in LN pathogenesis.

Molecular pathology of benign prostatic hyperplasia is multifactorial and involves endocrine, biochemical, immunological interactions. The mechanisms involved in the onset and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia are: infections, older than 50 years, imbalances in hormones and neurotransmitters, inflammation, oxidative stress. It is estimated that an infectious etiology can be a cause of wrong immune response directed at the prostate. Inflammatory neuropathies often occur after infections with various microorganisms. It is also known, that the presence of microorganisms is heterogeneous in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. In this paper we documented the antibody profile of anti-GM1, -GM2, -GM3, -GD1a, -GD1b, -GT1b, -GQ1b IgG and IgM type in 30 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and in 30 controls. The results showed an increasing anti-GD1a and anti-GQ1b titer in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia compared to control. The authors suggest that a careful monitoring of the patients developing an endogenous anti-gangliosidic immune response is required in order to assess these antibodies as potential risk factors for neuropathy in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Background and Aims Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is an inherited, complex disease, cystogenesis and phenotypic changes in this disorder being not yet fully understood. Recently, arginine, important for renal cells metabolism, was proved to play an important role in ADPKD physiopathology (1). The inability of cells to recycle or synthesize intracellular arginine through the urea cycle is defined as arginine auxotrophy. Arginine auxotrophy in ADPKD induces cell hyperproliferation, and cysts formation (2). We aimed to explore L-Arginine (Arg) - Nitric Oxide (NO) molecular pathway in ADPKD, a multisystemic, arginine auxotrophe disease. Method We developed a prospective, case control study, in Carol Davila Clinical Hospital of Nephrology, Bucharest, Romania. The study included a group of 62 subjects with ADPKD (mean age -54.3years old, men:women 34:28, with 1A and 1B Mayo ADPKD risk classes) and a group of 37 healthy subjects, similar as sex, mean age. ADPKD diagnosis was based on familial history, clinical exam and CT or MRI scan. We excluded from the study subjects that presented cysts in other organs except the kidney, with eGFR<60mL/min/1.73mp, with history of hematuria, cysts infection, urinary tract infection, renal lithiasis, with unstable blood pressure and hypertensive treatment for less than 6 months; metabolic disorders (carbamoyl phosphate synthase 1 and N-acetyl glutamate synthase deficiencies, lack of ornithine transcarbamilase, hyperargininemia, phenylketonuria). Laboratory tests: serum level of arginine, enzymatic activity of arginase 2 (ARG-2) and nitric oxide inducible synthase (NOS-2), serum levels of stable metabolites of nitric oxide (nitrate, direct nitrite, total nitrite), endogenous inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis (Asymmetric Dimethylarginine -ADMA, Symmetric Dimethylarginine SDMA). Results In ADPKD patients, the serum levels of arginine and of the stable metabolites of nitric oxide had statistically significant lower levels compared with control group (Table 1). The levels of the principal enzymes that metabolizes arginine – arginase 2 and nitric oxide inducible synthase, respectively the endogenous inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis were statistically significant higher in ADPKD group when compared with control group (Table 1). The ARG2/Arg, NOS2/Arg, Nitrite/Arg, Nitrate/Arg, ADMA/Arg and SDMA/Arg ratios were statistically significant overexpressed in ADPKD group when compared with control group. Conclusion ADPKD is a metabolic kidney disease, auxotrophic for arginine. The metabolic ADPKD phenotype of renal cells with low risk of progression (1A and 1B Mayo) is defined by the alteration of L-Arginine-NO molecular pathway, the significant reduction of systemic arginine, moderately increased enzymatic activities of ARG2 and NOS2, the reduction of the synthesis and bioactivity of NO. Exploring arginine reprogramming and related molecular L-Arg-NO pathways disturbances could offer more information about ADPKD physiopathology.

Background and Aims Interaction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with lipids, proteins, nucleic acids and hydro carbonates promotes acute and chronic tissue damage, mediates immunomodulation and triggers autoimmunity in systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) patients. The aim of the study was to determine the pathophysiological mechanisms of the oxidative stress-related damage and molecular mechanisms to counteract oxidative stimuli in lupus nephritis. Method Our study included 82 volunteers with SLE: 38 SLE volunteers with lupus nephritis (LN group) and 44 SLE volunteers without renal impairment (non-LN group) and a control group of 40 healthy volunteers. LN was diagnosed by histological exam (optic microscopy, electronic microscopy and immunofluorescence). Disease activity was measured by systemic SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), urinary protein/creatinine ration, anti-dsDNA, C3, C4 and urinary β2-microglobulin. In the present paper, we evaluated in serum: Results We detected high lipid peroxidation, elevated oxidative DNA damage, excess accumulation of reactive carbonylic compounds, important oxidation of carbohydrates, disulphide bonds formation and high nitrotyrosination with statistically significant differences between groups, when compared LN and non-LN groups with control group. When compared LN and non-LN groups, our results showed: 3-Nitrotyrosine levels, the decrease of total and native serum thiols, pentosidine levels, sRAGE level and OGG1 activity correlated with disease activity markers in both LN and non-LN groups, while AGE correlated with disease activity only in non-LN group. Conclusion The cellular response to oxidative stimuli in SLE is concreted in the amplification of oxidative degradation of lipids, proteins, nucleic acid, hydro carbonates and in alteration of endogenous strategies for suppression /modulating oxidative stress. The defective DNA repair mechanism via OGG1 and the reduced regulatory effect of sRAGE in activation AGE-RAGE axis in LN group versus non-LN could explain alteration of renal architecture and development of renal injury.

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