Related Experiment Video For Atherosclerosis
Updated: Feb 6, 2026

A Human Ex Vivo Atherosclerotic Plaque Model to Study Lesion Biology
Published on: May 6, 2014
Multiple Non-Essential Transition Metals Are Accumulated in Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques: Missing Link in
Ayhan Olcay1, Erdem Tezcan2, Emir Canturk3
1Department of Cardiology, İstanbul Aydin University Medical School, Beşyol Mahallesi, İnönü Cd. No:38, 34295, Küçükçekmece, İstanbul, Turkey. drayhanolcay@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Population studies revealed that metal exposure through food, environment, and smoking was related with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. In this study, we determined complex chemical elements in surgical carotid endarterectomy specimens and carotid tissues from autopsies without atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic plaques from 41 endarterectomies and normal carotid tissue from 30 autopsies were collected and elemental composition was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) method. Eleven (26.8%) patients never smoked in carotid endarterectomy group. One patient was brass souvenir worker and one was goldsmith and others did not have direct contact with metals in the carotid endarterectomy group. Na, Cu, Mn, Bi, Co, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Ti, and W levels were not different between two groups. Bi, Co, Mo, Pb, Ti, and W were below the detection limit of ICP-OES in both groups. Concentrations of Mg, K, Ca, P, Fe, B, Zn, Al, As, Cr, Pt, and Hg were significantly higher in carotid endarterectomies than normal carotid tissue samples. Cd and S values were significantly higher in autopsy samples. There is significant multiple non-essential transition metal accumulation in atherosclerotic carotid endarterectomy plaques. The cardiovascular consequences of metal toxicity have not been researched adequately due to large emphasis on the role of cholesterol in atherosclerosis. High level of non-essential transition metal elements in the carotid atherosclerotic plaques may add the missing link of atherogenesis and may necessitate new treatment and prevention strategies in carotid disease if confirmed by further research.
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