title: Increased oxidative stress with elevated serum thioredoxin level in patients with coronary spastic angina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary vasospasm. Thioredoxin (TRX) is a redox-active protein that is known to be induced by oxidative stress.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The serum TRX level may be high in patients with coronary vasospasm.
  
  
  METHODS
  The serum TRX level was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 21 patients with the active stage of coronary spastic angina (CSA), in 18 patients with the inactive stage of CSA (iCSA), in 24 control subjects without coronary artery disease (Control), and in 20 patients with stable effort angina (SEA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum TRX levels (mean +/- standard deviation ng/ml) were significantly higher in CSA (64 +/- 44) than in iCSA (28 +/- 26), in Control (34 +/- 15), and in SEA (36 +/- 16). In contrast, serum alpha-tocopherol levels (mg/g lipids) were significantly lower in CSA (2.8 +/- 0.7) than in Control (4.0 +/- 1.2) and in SEA (3.2 +/- 0.4). Current smoking was significantly more prevalent in CSA (76%) than in any of the other groups. No significant correlation was found between the serum level of TRX and alpha-tocopherol in the study subjects. In nine patients with CSA, the serum TRX level decreased (93 +/- 41 --> 41 +/- 35 ng/ml) and the alpha-tocopherol level increased (2.7 +/- 0.6 --> 3.2 +/- 0.7 mg/g lipids) significantly under medication with calcium entry blockers after an at least 3-month angina-free period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with coronary spastic angina had a higher serum TRX level associated with a lower serum level of antioxidant vitamin E, with redox equilibrium appearing to be related to the disease activity of coronary vasospasm in these patients. Oxidative stress may be related to the genesis of coronary vasospasm.
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Electric Power Hospital, Osaka, Japan. kmiwa@helen.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Kunihisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miwa
authors.forename: Chiharu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Toshinori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makita
authors.forename: Katsuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: Ataru
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shioji
authors.forename: Juni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yodoi
authors.forename: Shigetake
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasayama
mesh_terms: D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003329:Coronary Vasospasm / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012307:Risk Factors; D013879:Thioredoxins / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D014810:Vitamin E; D013879:Thioredoxins