Evaluation of oxidant and intracellular anti-oxidant activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients: In vivo and in silico studies.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the most prevalent cause

of the systematic inflammatory arthritis that destroys the joints. While the

pathogenesis of RA remains to be clarified, the imbalance in the oxidant and

anti-oxidant defense system plays a crucial role. This study aims to evaluate

oxidant and anti-oxidant levels of RA patients and their impacts on the

activity of the disease via in silico studies. 28 patients who had not

previously received any treatment for RA and 20 healthy controls were included.

Their oxidative stress markers, antioxidant markers, and inflammatory factors

were investigated via in silico studies. Compared to the Control Group,

serum CRP levels, MDA levels, and XO activities were higher in RA Group.

Cu/ZnSOD and GPx activities decreased while CAT activities remained unchanged.

Besides, there was a positive correlation between MDA-serum CRP levels but a

negative correlation between MDA levels-Cu/ZnSOD activities. Furthermore, we

observed a negative correlation between CRP levels and Cu/ZnSOD activities.

Based on these results, it was concluded that oxidative stress had increased,

the defense system had weakened, and ROS production had increased. Finally, our

study results with SOD and CAT activity were confirmed by molecular docking studies.<o:p></o:p>