Activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in plasma and lysates of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients

Abstract

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is characterized by the progressive accumulation of immature lymphocytes due to inhibited apoptosis. Oxidative stress has a significant role in the pathogenesis of diseases as well as in cancerogenesis itself. The aim of this research was to determine the activity of antioxidative enzymes in blood plasma and in lymphocyte lysates of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. Fifty-one patients were divided into two groups according to Rai classification. Group A consisted of patients in stage 0 and stage I and group B consisted of stage II, III and IV patients. Group C consisted of 32 healthy individuals. Enzyme activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in lymphocyte lysates of group B patients showed statistically significant decrease. Enzyme activity of catalase in group B patients' blood plasma showed statistically significant increase. Enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase of group B patients' blood plasma showed no statistically significant changes.