Modulation of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and calcium entry in leukocytes of patients with multiple sclerosis by Hypericum perforatum

• Published in: Nutritional neuroscience 2014-09, Vol.17 (5), p.214-221
• Main Authors: Naziroglu, Mustafa, Kutluhan, Suleyman, Övey, İshak Suat, Aykur, Mehmet, Yurekli, Vedat Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Apoptosis - drug effects; Ascorbic Acid - blood; beta Carotene - blood; Calcium - metabolism; Calcium Channel Blockers - pharmacology; Case-Control Studies; Cells, Cultured; concentration; Diltiazem - pharmacology; Female; Glutathione - metabolism; Glutathione Peroxidase - metabolism; Humans; Hypericum - chemistry; Inflammation; Intracellular Ca; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - drug therapy; Neutrophils; Neutrophils - drug effects; Neutrophils - metabolism; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; TRP Channels; Verapamil - pharmacology; Vitamin A - blood; Vitamin E - blood; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1028-415X; 1476-8305
• DOI: 10.1179/1476830513Y.0000000083

Objectives Hypericum perfortarum (HP, St John's wort) is a modulator of Ca 2+ entry in neutrophils and it may modulate intracellular free Ca 2+ ([Ca 2+ ] i ) entry in leukocytes of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated effects of HP on oxidative stress, apoptosis, and [Ca 2+ ] i concentrations in serum and leukocytes of patients with MS. Methods Neutrophils of nine newly diagnosed MS patients and nine healthy subjects within four subgroups were used in the study. The first group was a control; the second group was patients with MS. The neutrophils from patient group were incubated non-specific TRPM2 channel blocker (2-APB), voltage-gated calcium channel blockers, verapamil and diltiazem (V + D) with HP before N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine stimulation, respectively. Results Neutrophil and serum lipid peroxidation, neutrophil apoptosis and [Ca 2+ ] i levels in patients with MS were higher than in control although their levels were decreased by HP, 2-APB, and V + D incubations. The modulator role of V + D in MS and MS + HP groups was higher than in the 2-APB group. Neutrophilic glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and serum vitamin A and E concentrations were lower in the MS group than in control. However, the neutrophil GSH-Px activity was increased by HP incubation. The neutrophil reduced glutathione, serum vitamin C and β-carotene concentrations did not change in control and patients. Discussion We observed that HP-induced protective effects on oxidative stress and [Ca 2+ ] i concentrations by modulating transient receptor potential and voltage gated calcium channel in the patients with MS. Thus, it may provide useful treatment of neutrophil activity in the patients.