Increased oxidative damage to peripheral blood leukocyte DNA in chronic peritoneal dialysis patients

This study focuses on the extent of oxidative DNA damage in peripheral blood leukocytes of chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) patients. 8-Hydroxy 2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) contents in peripheral leukocyte DNA were measured by an HPLC-electrochemical detection method in 24 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects, 22 nondialyzed patients with advanced renal failure, and 42 CPD patients. Mean 8-OHdG content was the highest in CPD patients, followed by the nondialyzed patients, and then by the healthy subjects (19.4 versus 11.9 versus 8.3/10⁶ dG; ANOVA P < 0.001). In non-dialyzed subjects, peripheral leukocyte 8-OHdG contents inversely correlated with renal creatinine clearance (r = -0.772; P < 0.001). Deficiency of blood antioxidants in CPD and nondialyzed patients was expressed by the lower plasma levels of ascorbate, cholesterol-standardized a-tocopherol and whole-blood reduced glutathione, and the higher levels of whole-blood oxidized glutathione as compared with healthy subjects (ANOVA P < 0.05). Mean serum ferritin and iron levels and transferrin saturation were higher in the CPD patients than those in the nondialyzed patients and controls (ANOVA P < 0.05). Flow cytometric analyses of intracellular reactive oxygen species production of peripheral leukocytes showed that spontaneous production don by granulocytes, as well as phorbol- 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced production by granulocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes, were the highest from CPD patients, followed by nondialyzed patients, and then by the healthy subjects (ANOVA P < 0.05). Forward stepwise multiple regression disclosed that uremia, PD treatment, spontaneous and PMA-induced reactive oxygen species production in leukocytes, and serum iron were the independent determinants of peripheral leukocyte 8-OHdG content (R² = 0.769; P < 0.001). In conclusion, profound increased 8-OHdG levels in peripheral leukocyte DNA occur in the course of chronic renal failure, gradually increase with its progression, and are further exacerbated by PD treatment.