Markers of oxidative balance and concentration of selected metals in pollinotics

: It was reported that catalytically active metals are presented in both the soluble and insoluble fractions of ambient air pollution particles. Both catalyses generate and stimulate oxidative stress. There are very few reports on the role of oxidative stress in pollen allergy Theoretical presumptions may suggest that oxidative metabolism can be influenced by the activity of some metals and, on the other hand, pollens could be a carrier of at least catalytic amount of metals. The aim of our study was to evaluate concentrations of some metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Mg, Zn) and compare the markers of oxidative balance expressed as malondialde-hyde (MDA) concentration, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathion peroxidase (GPx) activities in the blood of patients with pollinosis. The investigation was performed on the group of 50 individuals, 34 diagnosed as pollen allergic and 16 healthy volunteers. We have found Pb blood concentration higher in pollen allergics group, but only on the verge of statistical significance (p = 0.058). No statistically significant differences in the concentrations of other examined metals between pollen allergics and controls were observed; whereas SOD activity was higher in allergics (p = 0.015), GPx activity lower in allergics (p = 0.045) and MDA concentration higher in allergics (p = 0.044). The positive linear correlations between SOD and Pb (r = 0.492; p < 0.001) as well as between Mg and MDA (r = 0.329; p = 0.02) were observed. On the basis of these results we formulated the following hypotheses, in our opinion worth further investigations: The statistically significant increase in SOD activity in the group of pollen allergics when compared to the group of controls points out the role of oxidative stress in pollen allergic persons. The statistically significant decrease in GPx activity suggests the long-lasting duration of oxidative stress in pollen allergic. The positive correlation between SOD activity and Pb level may suggest the putative role of Pb in oxidative stress. The positive correlation between Mg and MDA may suggest the presence of an additional mechanism in pollen allergy probably connected with the activation of phagocytosis by magnesium.