Zinc nutritional status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its relationship with oxidative stress and Arg213Gly polymorphism in SOD3 gene

Abstract

Studies show that there is an increased oxidative stress in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Zinc is a micronutrient essential to human health playing an important role in inflammation through the zinc finger protein A20 as well as antioxidant through the enzyme superoxide dismutase. Superoxide dismutase is considered the first line of antioxidant defense. Among the isoforms, SOD3 or EC-SOD is the principal isoenzyme in the synovial fluid. The presence of the variant allele of the polymorphism Arg213Gly in SOD3 gene results in a loss in binding of the enzyme with heparin, reduced the antioxidant activity in the vascular wall, decreasing the antioxidant protection in the vase. It is believed that there may be an association between oxidative stress, the presence of the polymorphism and susceptibility to cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the study aims to assess the nutritional status of zinc in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its relationship with oxidative stress and gene polymorphism Arg213Gly SOD3. The study will initially 50 individuals of both genders, aged between 19 and 59. A questionnaire of personal information will be applied; the nutritional status of zinc will be evaluated in erythrocytes, plasma and urine and activity of enzymes SOD and SOD3 in erythrocyte; evaluation of oxidative stress through the analysis of MDA; the lipid profile will be determined by methods commercial enzyme; food consumption will be assessed through record of three days; and polymorphism will be identified by the Taqman system with primer and probe specific for the SNP. It will be performed specific statistical tests for correlation of data and the results will be expressed as mean and standard deviation adopting a significance level of 5%. (AU)