Thiol-disulfide homeostasis: an integrated approach with biochemical and clinical aspects

Human life is maintained by oxygen and aerobic processes, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are harmful by-products of human organism metabolism [1]. Reactive oxygen species, composed of several molecules such as superoxide anion radicals (O2-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and hydroxyl radicals (-OH), are normally produced by cells during metabolic processes such as protein synthesis and mitochondrial metabolism [2]. The oxidative effects of ROS are neutralized by the antioxidant capacity of cells and this battle with oxidant stress maintains homeostasis [1]. Within the cell, the redox couples are controlled in a location-specific manner, especially in mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclei [3]. Additionally, extracellular compartments supply defensive barriers against external oxidants. Cysteine (Cys) and its disulfide, cystine (CySS) compose the major low-molecular weight thiol/disulfide couple in human plasma. The Cys/CySS pool is central redox control point in the biological signaling [4,5].

Organic compounds containing the sulfhydryl group is called thiol (-SH), composed of sulfur and hydrogen atoms. The thiols have high vulnerability to the oxidation due to their –SH group. Disulfides (-S-S-) are the most important class of dynamic, redox responsive covalent bonds build in between two thiol groups. Dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis (TDH) is reversal of thiol oxidation in proteins and represents the levels of thiols and disulfides. It is an important parameter associated with several biochemical processes, including regulation of protein function, stabilization of protein structure, protection of proteins against irreversible oxidation of cysteine residues, chaperon function, regulation of enzyme functions and transcription [6–9]. Up to date thiol, disulfide, sulfur-containing amino acid, reduced glutathione and oxidized glutathione levels were analyzed by several methods. Ellman [10] and Hu [11] have developed a technique using 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic) acid (DTNB) in other words Ellman’s reagent as a chromogen to measure the thiol levels. Recently, Erel and Neselioglu [12] modified Ellman’s method. In this new method, it was aimed both thiol and disulfide levels in blood. Firstly, available thiol in serum/plasma was detected without pretreatment. This first result was accepted as native thiol (NT). Then, a pretreatment step was carried out to reduce dynamic disulfide bonds to free sulfhydryl groups by using sodium borohydrate (NaBH4). Second measurement was performed and second result was accepted as total thiol (TT). In this step, extra reduction of DTNB and further reduction of formed disulfide bonds may occur. To prevent this positive interference, remaining NaBH4 remnants were completely removed using formaldehyde. Lastly, half of the difference between TT and NT was accepted disulfide. During measurement procedure, 2-mercaptoethanol was used to achieve a linear calibration curve. Also, they used two wavelengths, main wavelength 415 nm, secondary wavelength 700 nm (optionally bichromatic). In this end-point assay, the first absorbance was taken before the mixing of Reagent 2 and Reagent 3 and the last absorbance was taken when the reaction trace draws a plateau. Reagent ingredients and volumes were presented in Table. In this method, thiol (-SH) was represented with NT, while oxidized thiol (-S-S) was represented by disulfide. Total thiol is composed of sum of the NT and disulfide levels. This method have analyzed NT, total thiol (TT), disulfide levels and ratios of disulfide to native thiol, disulfide to total thiol and native to total thiol to elucidate dynamic TDH in organism. Thiol disulfide measurement procedure according to Erel and Neselioglu [12]. *for native thiol, **for total thiol. Beside to the colorimetric methods, several measurement methods were developed such as fluorometric methods [13], bioluminescence analysis [14], chromatographic methods [15]. During last years, TDH has started to be measured more widely. Therefore, TDH has started to be understood more exactly. Dysregulated TDH has been implicated several disorders with unknown etiology. A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that TDH is involved in the several diseases. Researchers have established that changing in NT, TT, disulfide levels and/or ratios. These results may elucidate some pathogenic mechanism or may be a predictor indicating diagnostic clue, prognostic marker or therapeutic sign. In a study investigating association between TDH and severity of coronary atherosclerosis, high syntax score was found to be associated with decreased NT level and NT to disulfide ratio [16]. Also, it has been demonstrated that NT, TT and disulfide levels of stable angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction patients were significantly lower than control patients [17,18]. Protecting power of extracellular cysteine pairs in disulfides protect for the reactive thiol groups and supporting effect on protein stability and function may be reason for lower disulfide level [19]. Lower disulfide levels may result from mentioned mechanism. It has proposed that total thiol is independently diagnostic predictor of coronary syndrome X [20]. Also, decreased NT and increased disulfide levels are associated with coronary artery ectasia [21] and decreased NT to disulfide ratio was independently associated with slow coronary flow [22]. Additionally in a study investigating association between childhood obesity, reduced thiol parameters were decreased whereas oxidized thiol parameters were increased [23]. In both primary hypertension and masked hypertension patients, disulfide and ratios in favor of disulfide were found to be increased. Furthermore disulfide to NT ratio to be an independent indicator of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure [24–26]. In an interesting study, researchers have investigated whether TDH can predict the occurrence of anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity. They were concluded that NT may elicit more objective data for physicians to detect which patients have high risk for cardiac toxicity [27]. Authors have demonstrated that NT and TT levels of prediabetes, type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus were lower while disulfide levels and disulfide to NT and disulfide to TT ratios were higher in patients compared to healthy volunteers [28–32]. Authors have demonstrated that TDH shifted toward disulfide formation in patients with autoimmune subclinical hypothyroidism and thyroid autoantibodies are positively correlated with disulfide to NT ratio [33]. It has been established that NT ant TT levels of Alzheimer’s disease, diabetic axonal polyneuropathy patients and children with febrile seizures were found to be statistically lower than controls. On the contrary, disulfide/TT ratio was found to be statistically higher than controls [34–36]. Authors have demonstrated that in epileptic patients, TDH was no affected. This unchanged homeostasis may result in both selecting patients taking mono- or poly-antiepileptic medication and preferring seizure-free period in collection of patient samples [37]. It has been demonstrated increased NT and TT levels in the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and migraine patients [38,39]. It has been demonstrated that disulfide levels and ratios of disulfide to NT and disulfide to TT were significantly higher in multiple sclerosis patients in the relapse than in patients in the remission [40]. Similarly, it has been demonstrated that NT and TT levels in Parkinson’s disease, panic disorder and acute ischemic stroke patients were detected to be significantly lower than healthy control subjects. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that lower NT levels were associated with higher infarct volume and higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score [41–43]. Headache including migraine- and tension-type headache in childhood was investigated in a study. It has been established that there was no significant difference in patient group compared to control group in terms of TDH. However, it has been established that disulfide to NT and disulfide to TT ratios were higher in the migraine group. In tension-type headache group, a negative correlation was found between thiol levels and Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment (PedMIDAS) [44]. It has been demonstrated that NT, TT levels were significantly lower in schizophrenia and heroin addiction patients. Furthermore, authors have demonstrated a negative correlation between NT, TT levels and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) [45,46]. Disruptive episodes of mania/hypomania and depression are called as bipolar affective disorder. In patients group, NT and TT levels were lower than remission and control group whereas no significant difference is detected between groups [47]. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a treatment modality based on magnetic pulses administered to cerebral cortex, may result in decreased serum NT and TT levels. It has been proposed that decreased thiol levels were associated with decreased inflammatory processes and decreased antioxidant activity [48]. In acute pulmonary embolism and childhood asthma patients, it has been established that disulfide level and disulfide to NT ratio of patient group were found to be higher compared to control group [49,50]. Contrarily, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome patients, TDH parameters were found similar among three groups. Furthermore, TDH parameters were not changed among smokers, nonsmokers and ex-smokers[51]. Authors have shown that NT, TT and disulfide levels in nonsmall cell lung cancer patients were significantly decreased compared with control subjects. It has been suggested that decrease of TDH parameters might be the prognostic marker of the tumor aggression and malignant disease [52]. Authors have demonstrated that NT levels were significantly lower in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, seasonal allergic rhinitis, Bell’s palsy, obstructive sleep apne and nasal polyposis [53–57]. It has been demonstrated that in patients with celiac disease, acute pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel diseases NT and TT levels were found to be lower, whereas disulfide level was found to be higher compared to healthy subjects [58–60]. In acute brucellosis, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, viral and bacterial tonsillopharyngitis NT and TT levels were found to be lower in patients than healthy control subjects. [61-63]. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is found to be associated with lower NT and TT levels than healthy control subjects. During attack periods, it has been demonstrated that NT and TT levels are found to be lower than attack free periods. In fact it has been established that NT and TT levels were associated with colchicine dosage [64]. Additionally, authors have investigated FMF in terms of effect of different mutations in the MEFV gene on TDH. Authors have proposed that TDH was not sufficient indicator in different mutations in MEFV gene. Nevertheless, it has been demonstrated lower NT, TT and disulfide levels, disulfide to NT and disulfide to TT ratios in FMF patients. Authors have explained these decreased levels transformation form disulfide to S-nitrosothiol, sulfenic acid, sufinic acid and sufonic acid [65]. It has been demonstrated that TT levels were significantly lower in ankylosing spondylitis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients compared to control group. Additionally, authors have proposed that thiol levels might be a useful marker of disease activation and there was a significant negative correlation TT levels and visual analog scale (VAS); TT levels and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) [66, 67]. Additionally, authors have demonstrated that decreased native thiol and total thiol levels and increased WOMAC score and disulphide levels were independently associated with increased risk of late-stage osteoarthritis [68]. Fibromyalgia syndrome is related to thiol-disulfide imbalance shifted to the reductive state according to a recent paper. In this study, NT levels were found to be significantly higher and disulfide levels were found to be significantly lower in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome than control group. This situation was connected with proliferative alteration explaining with higher NT and lower disulfide levels [69]. Thiol-disulfide homeostasis in patients with basal cell carcinoma, psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis has changed as the increased NT. It has been suggested that increased NT levels cause proliferation, whereas reduced NT along with the increased disulfide results in cell apoptosis [70–72]. It has been demonstrated that TDH was shifted towards to disulfide formation in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria whereas TDH was no changed in patients with acute urticarial [73]. In atopic dermatitis patients, serum disulfide levels and disulfide to NT and disulfide to TT ratios were found to be lower compared with healthy control children. Moreover, disulfide to NT ratio was positively correlated and NT to TT ratio was negatively correlated with higher scores assessing atopic dermatitis severity. Authors have proposed that decreased disulfide level might result from rebound phenomenon to continue protective influence by facilitating the neutralization of oxidative state [74]. It has been demonstrated that TDH was no changed in patients with alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease characterized scar-free hair loss. This may result from patients which has mild alopecia areata disease [75]. Authors have established that NT and TT levels were lower whereas disulfide level was higher in keratoconus and pseudoexfoliation syndrome patients compared with control group [76–78]. Native thiol and TT levels were found to be lower in central serous chorioretinopathy and macular degeneration patients compared to control subject [79–81]. In another study, authors have investigated age-related macular degeneration and they have established that NT levels were significantly decreased and disulfide levels were significantly increased in patients compared to control subjects [82]. As one most common endocrine disease, polycystic ovary syndrome has been shown to be related to higher thiol and lower disulfide levels. Authors have proposed that antioxidants hinder the atresia of antral follicles and the thiols play an essential role in cell proliferation, division and apoptosis. Elevated thiol levels may result from anti-oxidant response to oxidative load due to obesity or a consequence of physiological changes in polycystic ovary syndrome such as anovulation, multiple follicular development and apoptosis [83]. In another study investigating polycystic ovary syndrome, NT and TT levels were found to be significantly lower in patients with overweight polycystic ovary syndrome than normal weight polycystic ovary syndrome and oxidative stress was more marked in overweight polycystic ovary syndrome. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that lipid accumulation index was statistically significantly higher than in patients with overweight polycystic ovary syndrome than those in other three groups. Authors have established that lipid accumulation index and TDH may play an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in polycystic ovary syndrome [84]. In a study investigating postmenopausal osteoporosis it has been demonstrated that disulfide to NT ratio was higher in patients after adjustment for age and menopause duration and there was a negative correlation between the disulfide to NT ratio and bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebrae [85]. Authors investigated whether there is an association between TDH and premature ovarian failure. It has been demonstrated that TDH was shifted in favor of disulfide formation [86]. In patients with uterine myoma it has been demonstrated that NT, TT and disulfide levels were found to be lower than healthy control subjects. These results have been commented that proliferative phase of uterine myoma might be a possible cause and disulfide levels were found to be lower than control group [87]. It has been demonstrated that NT and TT levels in patients with endometriosis were lower than control group [88]. It has been demonstrated that TDH was shifted in favor of oxidative status in preeclampsia, pregnant women diagnosed with idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss, pregnant women diagnosed with FMF, pregnant women with fetal neural tube defects and vaginitis patients [89–93]. There are several studies investigating association between TDH and gestational diabetes mellitus [94–97]. It has been demonstrated that NT and TT levels were found to be lower than control subjects and decreased NT levels have an increased risk of possible adverse perinatal outcomes [95]. It has been demonstrated that thiol levels were significantly lower whereas disulfide levels were significantly higher in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus compared with both pregnant women with impaired glucose tolerance and uncomplicated pregnant subjects [96]. Authors have investigated pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus, obese pregnant women and healthy pregnant women in terms of TDH of cord blood. Native thiol levels were found to be lower in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus compared to other two groups. Total thiol levels were found to be lower in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus compared to obese pregnant women. Disulfide levels were found to be higher in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus compared to healthy pregnant women and in obese pregnant compared to healthy pregnant women. Authors have suggested that infants of obese or diabetic mothers are exposed to increased oxidative stress [94]. In another study, authors have demonstrated that 50 grams glucose challenge test-positive pregnant women have increased disulfide levels after glucose loading compared to baseline [97]. Thiol-disulfide homeostasis has been investigated in patients with abortus imminens. It has been demonstrated that NT and TT levels were found to be lower than control group. Authors have proposed that during pregnancy, insufficient antioxidant defense may be an etiologic factor in the pathogenesis of abortus imminens [98]. It has been demonstrated that NT ad TT levels were significantly lower and disulfide level was significantly higher in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum and intrahepatic cholestasis and in fetus with nuchal cord during labor than control group [99–101]. In another study, authors have demonstrated that maternal NT to TT ratio, NT and TT levels were significantly lower while ratios of disulfide to NT and disulfide to TT were significantly higher in pregnancies complicated by intra uterine growth restriction compared to control subjects. Authors have proposed that decreased NT and TT levels might diminish maternal serum H2S level and inhibit its vasodilatation effect through nitric oxide synthesis [102]. It has been demonstrated that NT and TT levels were lower and disulfide to NT and disulfide to TT ratios were higher in pregnancies complicated by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome compared to nonpregnant control subjects [103]. At birth, the timing of umbilical cord clamping has important for cardiovascular system, pulmonary system and blood volume of neonate. In a study investigating effect of three different cord clamping procedures (i.e. early clamping, delayed clamping, and cord milking) on TDH, it has been demonstrated that NT and TT levels were statistically significantly lower in the early clamping group compared with the delayed clamping and cord milking group as an indicator of oxidative stress. In conclusion, they have recommended delayed cord clamping and cord milking due to beneficial effects on the neonates [104]. In a study investigating TDH in preterm infant, researchers have collect patient blood at baseline, first week and third week after birth. It has been demonstrated that NT and TT levels were increased in each analysis and disulfide levels and disulfide to NT and disulfide to TT ratios were increased at first week and decreased at third week. The ratio of NT to TT was decreased at first week and increased at third week. Authors have proposed that increased thiol levels might result from cysteine containing amino acid administration or breast milk that enhances antioxidative defense compared to enteral feeding. Moreover, increased disulfide level at first week may due to oxidative damaged-treatment including phototherapy and antibiotics. Furthermore, it is speculated that healing from respiratory diseases might contribute to diminish in disulfide levels at third week [105]. In a study executed on prostate cancer patients, authors have compared prostate cancer patients before and six month after radical prostatectomy operation and control group in term of TDH. In the study, NT, TT and disulfide levels were found to be lower in patients before operation compared to control subjects. There was a significant negative correlation between levels of prostate specific antigen and levels of NT and TT in patient group before operation and control group. Similarly, NT, TT and disulfide levels were found to be lower in patients after operation compared to control subjects. Furthermore, authors have stated that TDH begins to shift towards thiols following operation [106]. Similarly, authors have demonstrated that NT and TT levels decreased in patients underwent transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy [107]. It has been demonstrated that TDH has shifted towards disulfide in patients with varicocele as one of the most common causes of male infertility [108]. In two study investigating TDH in operating theater personnel and asphalt workers, authors have demonstrated that TDH has shifted to disulfide formation resulting from increased disulfide level, increased disulfide to NT ratio [109, 110]. In a study investigating occupationally arsenic-exposed workers in terms of TDH, disulfide level, disulfide to NT ratio and disulfide to TT ratio were found to be increased in workers exposed to arsenic, lead and asphalt fume than control group. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that there are positive correlations between urinary arsenic level and disulfide level and urinary arsenic level and disulfide to NT ratio. Also, a positive correlation was detected between lead and disulfide levels [111–113]. It has been demonstrated that NT levels were found to be significantly lower in professionals working in radiation environments than control subjects. However, there was no difference between two groups in terms of TT and disulfide levels. The results have been explained that NT would only have been affected by initial stages of these processes [114]. When TDH parameters were investigated silica and trichloroethylene exposure group, it has been established higher disulfide levels in exposed workers than healthy volunteers. Furthermore, there were a negative correlation between NT, TT, NT to TT ratio and urinary trichloroethylene levels and a positive correlation between disulfide to NT and disulfide to TT ratios and urinary trichloroethylene levels [115,116]. In an interesting study, authors have investigated TDH parameters in gunshot injuries. It has been demonstrated that NT, TT and disulfide levels were decreased whereas disulfide to NT and disulfide to TT ratios were increased in patient with gunshot injury. Furthermore, NT levels were found to be an independent indicator of Revised Trauma Scale (RTS) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Authors have speculated that low NT levels might result from attempt to detoxify oxidative stress and ROS generated due to trauma [117]. The authors have demonstrated that NT and TT levels are found to be lower and disulfide level was found to be higher in patients with acute appendicitis compared to control group. In fact this shift towards disulfide formation was valid in perforated appendicitis patients compared to nonperforated appendicitis patients [118]. Similarly, in breast cancer patients, NT and TT levels are found to be lower and disulfide level was found to be higher than control subjects [119]. In a study investigating effect of elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and open inguinal-femoral hernia repair operation on TDH, the authors have demonstrated that during operation, NT, TT and disulfide levels were found to be decreased. Additionally, 24 h after laparoscopic surgery, NT, TT and disulfide levels were found to be increased but not return to preoperative levels [120]. In operated aortic aneurysm and acute aortic syndrome patients, NT and TT levels were increased and disulfide level and disulfide to NT ratio were decreased after 6 months of operation. Authors have concluded that thiol and disulfide levels are distinctive tests between healthy subjects and aneurysm or acute aortic syndrome [121]. It has been demonstrated that in patients with carbon monoxide poisoning and smokers NT and TT levels were decrease whereas disulfide level was increased [122, 123]. Authors have demonstrated that NT, TT and disulfide levels decreased in patient with multiple myeloma, a malignancy of bone morrow. Because the ratios were similar in all groups, authors have asserted that there is a balance between thiol and disulfide levels and the balance determine the systemic effects [124]. It has been demonstrated that TDH parameters were no changed in maple syrup urine disease patients. Authors have decided that good metabolic control and proper dietary compliance in maple syrup urine disease patients may prevent oxidative stress [125]. Recently, it has been provided that thiol-disulfide homeostasis might be a notable key for evaluating the severity of burns and predicting the survival [126].

Thiol-disulfide homeostasis is reversal of thiol oxidation in proteins and represents the levels of thiols and disulfides. Thiol-disulfide homeostasis is an important parameter associated with several biochemical processes. Dysregulated thiol-disulfide homeostasis has been implicated several disorders with unknown etiology. The evidence so far has proposed that thiol-disulfide homeostasis is an important issue and needs to be elucidated wholly.