Isoprostanes and other markers of peroxidation in atherosclerosis.

Patrignani, Paola; Tacconelli, Stefania

Several lines of evidence suggest that reactive oxygen species play a role in the development of vasculopathies, including those that define atherosclerosis, hypertension and restenosis after angioplasty. Confused picture emerging from prospective clinical trials of anti-oxidants may reflect inadequacy of traditional indices of lipid peroxidation in the recruitment of appropriate patients and in guiding the selection of the appropriate dose of anti-oxidant to be tested. Ex vivo indices of oxidant stress could have questionable veracity in assessing the actual rate of lipid peroxidation in vivo . The measurement of F 2 -isoprostanes (F 2 -iPs), formed non-enzimatically through free radical catalysed attack on esterified arachidonate, provides a reliable tool for identifyng populations with enhanced rates of lipid peroxidation. Enhanced formation of F 2 -iPs, together with increased in vivo platelet activation, has been reported in association with several cardiovascular risk factors. Thus, it has been suggested that F 2 -iPs may transduce oxidant stress-dependent platelet activation. Measurements of 8-iso-PGF 2 α , an abundant F 2 -iP formed in vivo , in urine may provide sensitive biochemical end-points for the assessment of the oxidant status of the patient and the true efficacy of anti-oxidant therapies. The incorporation of such biochemical end-points in clinical trials may help to verify the reliability of the oxidative modification hypothesis in the development of atheroscelerosis.

ATHEROSCLEROSIS; BIOMARKERS; OXIDIZING agents; REACTIVE oxygen species; BLOOD platelet activation; PHOTOSYNTHETIC oxygen evolution; PEROXIDATION

Biomarkers, 2005, Vol 10, p24

1354-750X

Academic Journal

10.1080/13547500500215084