ASSESSMENT OF LIPID PEROXIDATION MARKERS AND PROINFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES IN ARSENITE-EXPOSED RATS

Arsenic exposure has been associated with diverse diseased states, including cancer and atherosclerosis. Changes linked with these states include heightened oxidative stress and immunological responses promoted by thisintoxication. This study aimed to find the relationships between lipid peroxidation products and proinflammatory cytokines on exposure to arsenic. Method: Rats wereexposed to sodium arsenite in their drinking water at doses of 50 and 100 ppm for 7 weeks. At the end of the exposure period, lipid peroxidation products and paraoxonase activity were measured spectrophotometrically while inflammatory cytokines were assayed using ELISA kits. Results: Plasma hydroperoxide levels were increased by more than 150%, while hepatic MDA concentration was raised by 2 fold at high dose of exposure. Arsenite resulted in depression of paraoxonase activity. Concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines: IL-2, IL-6 nd TNF-αwere also higher a control group. Rats exposed to arsenite showed positive correlation between lipid peroxidation products and proinflammatory cytokines. Conclusion: Arsenic-induced toxicity may be related to interplay of the peroxidative processes with the process of inflammatory/immunological reactions.