Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (DPhil (Medical Immunology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Immunology / unrestricted

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Objetivos: Avaliar o efeito da ressecção tumoral e da quimioterapia sobre o estado nutricional e os marcadores séricos/plasmáticos do estado inflamatório e do estresse oxidativo de pacientes com neoplasia maligna da confluência biliopancreática. Casuística: O estudo prospectivo e longitudinal foi conduzido com pacientes adultos com neoplasia maligna da confluência biliopancreática (Grupo Câncer, n=10) que foram submetidos à ressecção tumoral seguida de quimioterapia, conforme diretrizes internacionais estabelecidas na rotina do Serviço de Gastrocirurgia e de Oncologia Clínica da HCFMRP-USP. O estudo incluiu também voluntários saudáveis (Grupo Controle, n=10), pareados para a idade, gênero e condição socioeconômica. Métodos: Os pacientes do Grupo Câncer foram avaliados em duas ocasiões distintas, sendo a primeira no pré-operatório da ressecção tumoral e a segunda, após o término da quimioterapia. Antes da cirurgia, os pacientes foram questionados sobre a evolução ponderal, foram feitas as medidas de composição corporal e aplicaram-se questionários de qualidade de vida e de fadiga. Foi feita a coleta de sangue para avaliação laboratorial do estado clínico e nutricional, que incluiu a determinação de proteínas séricas, albumina, zinco e cobre. Foram avaliados os marcadores de estresse oxidativo como: superóxido dismutase (SOD), glutationa peroxidase (GPx), malondialdeído (MDA) e vitamina E. Foram dosadas as citocinas séricas: interleucina-1? (IL-1?), interleucina-6 (IL-6), interleucina-10 (IL-10), fator de necrose tumoral alfa (TNF?) e interferon gama (INF?). Todas as análises foram repetidas num período médio de 50 dias após término da quimioterapia. O Grupo Controle foi submetido aos mesmos procedimentos, em apenas uma ocasião. A análise estatística foi feita com o software Statistica 8.0, usando o teste não paramétrico de Wilcoxon pareado ou teste não paramétrico de Mann Whitney. Para todas as análises, foi estabelecido um nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: O IMC, a massa gorda e a massa magra do Grupo Câncer mantiveram-se inalterados nos dois momentos da avaliação. Os pacientes relataram média de 20% de perda de peso antes do diagnóstico do tumor, mas não houve perda de peso durante o tratamento oncológico. A qualidade de vida e de fadiga não se alterou no período de estudo e os pacientes mantiveram escores elevados nos dois momentos da avaliação. A SOD e a GPx mantiveram-se elevadas no pré-operatório e após a quimioterapia em relação ao Grupo Controle. O MDA não se alterou em nenhum momento do estudo. No pré-operatório, a TNF-? foi mais elevada em relação ao Grupo Controle, mantendo-se elevada após a quimioterapia. A IL-6 mostrou-se elevada antes da ressecção tumoral e apresentou aumento adicional após o tratamento oncológico. A IL-1? foi menor no pré-operatório em relação ao Grupo Controle. A IL-10 estava elevada no pré-operatório, reduziu na 2ª coleta, porém manteve-se elevada em relação ao Grupo Controle. Conclusões: Os dados obtidos indicam que os pacientes com neoplasia maligna da confluência biliopancreática apresentaram perda ponderal anterior ao diagnóstico, mas houve estabilização do peso, da composição corporal e dos escores de qualidade de vida e de fadiga após a ressecção tumoral e o uso de drogas antineoplásicas. Os pacientes mantiveram níveis elevados de IL-6, IL-10 e TNF-? indicando atividade neoplasia e pior prognóstico. Os níveis séricos de SOD e de GPx mantiveram-se altos durante todo o seguimento, provavelmente mantendo um equilíbrio oxidativo que preveniu a peroxidação lipídica. A vitamina E reduziu após quimioterapia, o que sugere necessidade de reposição desta vitamina em pacientes que recebem drogas antineoplásicas. / Objective: To evaluate the effect of tumor resection and chemotherapy on nutritional status and serum / plasma oxidative and inflammatory stress markers in patients with malignant neoplasm of biliopancreatic confluence. The prospective and longitudinal study was conducted with 10 adult patients of both genders with malignant neoplasm of biliopancreatic confluence (Group Cancer, n = 10) who underwent tumor resection followed by chemotherapy, according to established international guidelines followed in the routine of the Service of Gastrocirurgia and of Clinical Oncology of the HCFMRP-USP. The study also included 10 healthy volunteers (Control Group, n = 10), matched for age and gender. Methods: Patients of the Cancer Group were evaluated on two different occasions, the first one in the preoperative period of tumor resection and after the end of chemotherapy. Before resection, the patients were questioned about the weight evolution, the measurements of body composition were made and quality of life and fatigue questionnaires were applied. Blood samples were collected for laboratory evaluation of clinical and nutritional status, including determination of serum proteins, including albumin, in addition to zinc and copper. We evaluated superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde and vitamin E, in addition to IL-1?, IL-6, IL-10, TNF?, and INF?. All analyzes were repeated within a mean period of 50 days after chemotherapy was completed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistica 8.0 software, using the nonparametric Wilcoxon paired test or the non-parametric Mann Whitney test. For all analyzes, a significance level of 5% was established. Results: The BMI, fat mass and lean mass of the Cancer Group remained unchanged at both moments of the evaluation. In our study, patients reported weight loss before surgical treatment, averaging 20% of the weight before diagnosis of the tumor. During cancer treatment, there was no significant weight loss. Quality of life and fatigue did not change during the study period and had elevated scores. SOD and GPx are elevated preoperatively and post-chemotherapy in relation to the Control Group. MDA did not change at any point in the study. In relation to cytokines, TNF-? is higher in the preoperative period than in the Control Group, which remains high after chemotherapy and with a significant difference in relation to the Control Group. IL-6 was significantly elevated prior to tumor resection and further increased after resection and chemotherapy. IL-1? was lower preoperatively than in the Control Group. IL-10 is elevated preoperatively, reduced in the second collection, but remained elevated significantly in relation to the Control Group. In conclusion, the data obtained in the present study indicate that patients with malignant neoplasm of biliopancreatic confluence submitted to tumor resection followed by chemotherapy presented weight loss prior to diagnosis, but there was stabilization of weight, body composition and quality of life scores and of fatigue after the use of antineoplastic drugs. On the other hand, serum levels of SOD and GPx remained high throughout the follow-up, probably maintaining an oxidative balance that prevented lipid peroxidation. Vitamin E reduced after chemotherapy, which suggests that this vitamin should be replenished in patients receiving antineoplastic drugs. In parallel, patients maintained high levels of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-? indicating advanced cancer and worse prognosis.

Objetivos: Avaliar o efeito da ressecção tumoral e da quimioterapia sobre o estado nutricional e os marcadores séricos/plasmáticos do estado inflamatório e do estresse oxidativo de pacientes com neoplasia maligna da confluência biliopancreática. Casuística: O estudo prospectivo e longitudinal foi conduzido com pacientes adultos com neoplasia maligna da confluência biliopancreática (Grupo Câncer, n=10) que foram submetidos à ressecção tumoral seguida de quimioterapia, conforme diretrizes internacionais estabelecidas na rotina do Serviço de Gastrocirurgia e de Oncologia Clínica da HCFMRP-USP. O estudo incluiu também voluntários saudáveis (Grupo Controle, n=10), pareados para a idade, gênero e condição socioeconômica. Métodos: Os pacientes do Grupo Câncer foram avaliados em duas ocasiões distintas, sendo a primeira no pré-operatório da ressecção tumoral e a segunda, após o término da quimioterapia. Antes da cirurgia, os pacientes foram questionados sobre a evolução ponderal, foram feitas as medidas de composição corporal e aplicaram-se questionários de qualidade de vida e de fadiga. Foi feita a coleta de sangue para avaliação laboratorial do estado clínico e nutricional, que incluiu a determinação de proteínas séricas, albumina, zinco e cobre. Foram avaliados os marcadores de estresse oxidativo como: superóxido dismutase (SOD), glutationa peroxidase (GPx), malondialdeído (MDA) e vitamina E. Foram dosadas as citocinas séricas: interleucina-1? (IL-1?), interleucina-6 (IL-6), interleucina-10 (IL-10), fator de necrose tumoral alfa (TNF?) e interferon gama (INF?). Todas as análises foram repetidas num período médio de 50 dias após término da quimioterapia. O Grupo Controle foi submetido aos mesmos procedimentos, em apenas uma ocasião. A análise estatística foi feita com o software Statistica 8.0, usando o teste não paramétrico de Wilcoxon pareado ou teste não paramétrico de Mann Whitney. Para todas as análises, foi estabelecido um nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: O IMC, a massa gorda e a massa magra do Grupo Câncer mantiveram-se inalterados nos dois momentos da avaliação. Os pacientes relataram média de 20% de perda de peso antes do diagnóstico do tumor, mas não houve perda de peso durante o tratamento oncológico. A qualidade de vida e de fadiga não se alterou no período de estudo e os pacientes mantiveram escores elevados nos dois momentos da avaliação. A SOD e a GPx mantiveram-se elevadas no pré-operatório e após a quimioterapia em relação ao Grupo Controle. O MDA não se alterou em nenhum momento do estudo. No pré-operatório, a TNF-? foi mais elevada em relação ao Grupo Controle, mantendo-se elevada após a quimioterapia. A IL-6 mostrou-se elevada antes da ressecção tumoral e apresentou aumento adicional após o tratamento oncológico. A IL-1? foi menor no pré-operatório em relação ao Grupo Controle. A IL-10 estava elevada no pré-operatório, reduziu na 2ª coleta, porém manteve-se elevada em relação ao Grupo Controle. Conclusões: Os dados obtidos indicam que os pacientes com neoplasia maligna da confluência biliopancreática apresentaram perda ponderal anterior ao diagnóstico, mas houve estabilização do peso, da composição corporal e dos escores de qualidade de vida e de fadiga após a ressecção tumoral e o uso de drogas antineoplásicas. Os pacientes mantiveram níveis elevados de IL-6, IL-10 e TNF-? indicando atividade neoplasia e pior prognóstico. Os níveis séricos de SOD e de GPx mantiveram-se altos durante todo o seguimento, provavelmente mantendo um equilíbrio oxidativo que preveniu a peroxidação lipídica. A vitamina E reduziu após quimioterapia, o que sugere necessidade de reposição desta vitamina em pacientes que recebem drogas antineoplásicas. / Objective: To evaluate the effect of tumor resection and chemotherapy on nutritional status and serum / plasma oxidative and inflammatory stress markers in patients with malignant neoplasm of biliopancreatic confluence. The prospective and longitudinal study was conducted with 10 adult patients of both genders with malignant neoplasm of biliopancreatic confluence (Group Cancer, n = 10) who underwent tumor resection followed by chemotherapy, according to established international guidelines followed in the routine of the Service of Gastrocirurgia and of Clinical Oncology of the HCFMRP-USP. The study also included 10 healthy volunteers (Control Group, n = 10), matched for age and gender. Methods: Patients of the Cancer Group were evaluated on two different occasions, the first one in the preoperative period of tumor resection and after the end of chemotherapy. Before resection, the patients were questioned about the weight evolution, the measurements of body composition were made and quality of life and fatigue questionnaires were applied. Blood samples were collected for laboratory evaluation of clinical and nutritional status, including determination of serum proteins, including albumin, in addition to zinc and copper. We evaluated superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde and vitamin E, in addition to IL-1?, IL-6, IL-10, TNF?, and INF?. All analyzes were repeated within a mean period of 50 days after chemotherapy was completed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistica 8.0 software, using the nonparametric Wilcoxon paired test or the non-parametric Mann Whitney test. For all analyzes, a significance level of 5% was established. Results: The BMI, fat mass and lean mass of the Cancer Group remained unchanged at both moments of the evaluation. In our study, patients reported weight loss before surgical treatment, averaging 20% of the weight before diagnosis of the tumor. During cancer treatment, there was no significant weight loss. Quality of life and fatigue did not change during the study period and had elevated scores. SOD and GPx are elevated preoperatively and post-chemotherapy in relation to the Control Group. MDA did not change at any point in the study. In relation to cytokines, TNF-? is higher in the preoperative period than in the Control Group, which remains high after chemotherapy and with a significant difference in relation to the Control Group. IL-6 was significantly elevated prior to tumor resection and further increased after resection and chemotherapy. IL-1? was lower preoperatively than in the Control Group. IL-10 is elevated preoperatively, reduced in the second collection, but remained elevated significantly in relation to the Control Group. In conclusion, the data obtained in the present study indicate that patients with malignant neoplasm of biliopancreatic confluence submitted to tumor resection followed by chemotherapy presented weight loss prior to diagnosis, but there was stabilization of weight, body composition and quality of life scores and of fatigue after the use of antineoplastic drugs. On the other hand, serum levels of SOD and GPx remained high throughout the follow-up, probably maintaining an oxidative balance that prevented lipid peroxidation. Vitamin E reduced after chemotherapy, which suggests that this vitamin should be replenished in patients receiving antineoplastic drugs. In parallel, patients maintained high levels of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-? indicating advanced cancer and worse prognosis.

The adrenal cortex is a crucial endocrine gland in the mammalian stress response. In chronic inflammatory stress, cortisol is elevated whereas adrenal androgens are decreased. Furthermore, ACTH levels have poor correlation with the plasma cortisol in these conditions, thus suggesting that other factors are driving the stress response during chronic inflammatory stress. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a cytokine which is released during chronic inflammatory stress, is assumed to be one such factor. Thus the biochemical pathways by which IL-6 increases cortisol release from the zona fasciculata (ZF), and decreases adrenal androgen release from the zona reticularis (ZR) were investigated. Since IL-6 activates AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) in skeletal muscle, AMPK was investigated for IL-6- induced effects in ZF and ZR tissue. The effects of AMPK activation and IL-6 exposure on the expression of the steroidogenic proteins, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), and on the steroidogenic nuclear factors steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) and adrenal hypoplasia congenita, critical region on the X chromosome, gene-1 (DAX-1) were investigated. AMPK activation and IL-6 exposure increased the expression of StAR, P450scc, and SF-1, and decreased DAX-1 in the ZF. Meanwhile, AMPK activation and IL-6 exposure decreased the expression of StAR, P450scc, and SF-1, and increased DAX-1 in the ZR. AMPK inhibition blocked the effects of AMPK activation and IL-6 on the ZF and ZR. Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) was the second biochemical intermediate studied since in other tissues AMPK activation increases the expression and phosphorylation of AP-1 subunits. IL-6 stimulation and AMPK activation increased the expression of the AP-1 subunits cFOS, cJUN, JUN B, and JUN D, while increasing the phosphorylation of cJUN in both the ZF and the ZR. These effects were blocked by AMPK inhibition. Inhibition of AP-1 leads to decreased StAR, P450scc, and SF-1, and increased DAX-1 in the ZF. Meanwhile, AP-1 inhibition leads to increased StAR, P450scc, SF-1, and decreased DAX-1 in the ZR. Therefore the AP-1 complex functions as a biochemical intermediate in the IL-6 and AMPK regulation of steroidogenic enzymes in the ZF and ZR. Overall, the results suggest that IL-6 activates AMPK, which increases the expression and phosphorylation of AP-1 subunits in the ZF and the ZR. However, increased AP-1 activation leads to increased StAR and P450scc in the ZF, but decreased StAR and P450scc in the ZR.