Oxygen radicals, nitric oxide and human inflammatory joint disease
Article Abstract:
Free radicals may play a role in the destructive process of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Free radicals are charged, oxidizing molecules that are highly reactive because they have one or more unpaired electrons. They may be deliberately produced by white blood cells to kill invading pathogens. They may be produced inadvertently during certain metabolic processes. Positive metallic ions promote reactions that produce them. Several defenses against them have evolved. Certain enzymes react with them and remove them from circulation. Positively charged metal ions are commonly bound to proteins, which renders the ion nonnreactive. Cells can survive a certain amount of damage. There are systems to repair free radical damage to DNA and get rid of damaged proteins and fatty acids. In RA, iron ions are released from degraded hemoglobin from dead red blood cells. Activated white blood cells produce free radicals. Some medications also become free radicals and may be contributing to damage even as they relieve symptoms.
Publication Name: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4967
Year: 1995
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Protection against peroxynitrite dependent tyrosine nitration and alpha-1-antiproteinase inactivation by some anti-inflammatory drugs and by the antibiotic tetracycline
Article Abstract:
Certain drugs appear to prevent the formation of toxic compounds that participate in the degenerative process of rheumatoid arthritis while others do not. Laboratory experiments revealed that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin and naproxen were moderately protective, and others such as ibuprofen and sulindac were only weakly protective. By contrast, 5-aminosalicylate, penicillamine disulphide, and paracetamol offered much greater protection. Phenylbutazone and flufenamic acid showed protective properties in one chemical assay but could not be tested in the other one.
Publication Name: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4967
Year: 1996
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Hydroxyl radical generation by rheumatoid blood and knee joint synovial fluid
Article Abstract:
The ability of joint fluid and blood in patients with rheumatoid arthritis to produce hydroxyl radicals (OH') may partly explain the tissue damage done with this disease. OH' production was evaluated in blood and joint fluid samples from 53 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Thirty-six of 53 samples produced evidence of OH' production using phenylalanine as the chemical stimulus while 18 of 22 samples produced evidence OH' production using salicylate as the chemical stimulus.
Publication Name: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4967
Year: 1996
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