title: Collagen-linked fluorescence in human atherosclerotic plaques.
abstract: Advanced glycosylation endproducts (AGE) are intraprotein crosslinks which form in the late stages of the Maillard (browning) reaction. It is unknown whether local changes in AGE-modified collagen occur within arteries. We measured AGE-modified collagen as collagen-linked fluorescence (CLF) in human arterial tissue and in various forms of atherosclerotic plaque. All tissues showed single fluorescence peak at excitation wavelength 340 nm and emission wavelength 420-440 nm. CLF in the aorta was 27.9 +/- 8.5 units/mg, in the coronary arteries 25.9 +/- 6.3 units/mg and in the tendon 47.8 +/- 11.5 units/mg. CLF in the skin correlated with CLF in the aorta (r = 0.467, P = 0.025) but not with CLF in coronary arteries (P = 0.935). In areas of aorta covered by superficial plaque, CLF was decreased compared with adjacent, atheroma-free segments (22.2 +/- 5.2 units/mg vs. 27.9 +/- 8.5 units/mg; P = 0.01). The CLF of collagenous plaques correlated with CLF of the atheroma-free regions. Individuals with low to moderate atheroma had lower (20.0 units/mg) CLF in superficial atherosclerotic plaques than patients with severe atheroma (22.5 units/mg; P = 0.0466). Our results indicate that local changes in vascular AGE-collagen concentration occur in atherosclerosis. This finding may have pathogenetic significance in atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Lindop
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Dominiczak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019298:Glucose-6-Phosphate; D005958:Glucosephosphates; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015416:Maillard Reaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D005958:Glucosephosphates; D019298:Glucose-6-Phosphate; D003094:Collagen