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Erythrocyte selenium-glutathione peroxidase activity is lower in patients with coronary atherosclerosis
A Yegin1, H Yegin, Y Alicigüzel
1Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Arapsuyu, Antalya, Turkey.
Insights
Erythrocyte selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPx) activity and selenium levels decrease as coronary artery disease severity increases. These erythrocyte markers may help assess atherosclerosis progression.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Oxidative Stress Research
Background:
- Atherosclerosis development is linked to oxidative stress.
- Erythrocyte antioxidant systems play a potential role in disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes and selenium levels and coronary artery stenosis severity.
- To determine if erythrocyte parameters can serve as biomarkers for atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Measured intraerythrocyte enzyme activities, including glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), glutathione reductase (GR), and selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPx).
- Quantified selenium levels in erythrocytes of patients with coronary artery stenosis and healthy controls.
- Correlated enzyme activities and selenium levels with the severity of coronary artery disease.
Main Results:
- A significant decrease in Se-GPx activity and erythrocyte selenium levels was observed in patients with coronary artery stenosis compared to controls.
- Both Se-GPx activity and selenium levels showed a negative correlation with the severity of coronary artery disease.
Conclusions:
- Reduced erythrocyte Se-GPx activity and selenium levels are associated with increased severity of coronary artery disease.
- These erythrocyte parameters show potential as determinants for assessing atherosclerosis severity.
Abstract:
To obtain further insight into the role of erythrocyte antioxidant systems in the development of atherosclerosis, intraerythrocyte enzyme activities and selenium levels in erythrocytes were determined in 37 patients with angiographically proved coronary artery stenosis and 15 subjects with normal coronary angiograms as controls. In a preliminary study, the enzymatic activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), glutathione reductase (GR) and selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPx) were measured in both venous and arterial blood samples obtained from patients before angiography. The data of the preliminary study, which showed that only the Se-GPx decreased in the patients, led us to concentrate on the Se-GPx and Se levels to determine the changes in these variables. Our results showed that there was a decrease in both the activity of Se-GPx and Se levels in erythrocytes parallel to the increase in the severity of coronary artery disease. It was concluded that these parameters might be used as determinants in the assessment of the severity of the disease.