Inverse association between serum concentrations of neopterin and antioxidants in patients with and without angiographic coronary artery disease.
Neopterin is released from human monocyte-derived macrophages upon stimulation with interferon-gamma and is a sensitive indicator for cellular immune activation. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in case of immune activation and inflammation. In a cross-sectional approach, plasma concentrations of neopterin and of antioxidant compounds and vitamins were compared in 1463 patients investigated by coronary angiography, which were recruited within the LUdwigshafen RIsk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study. Serum neopterin concentrations were higher in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD; mean+/-S.D.: 8.7+/-7.3 nmol/L) compared to controls (7.4+/-5.0 nmol/L; Welch's t-test: p<0.001). Mean concentrations of ascorbic acid (p<0.0001), gamma-tocopherol (p<0.05), lycopene (p<0.001), lutein+zeaxanthin (p<0.05), alpha-carotene (p<0.05) and beta-carotene (p<0.05) were lower in CAD than in controls. Neopterin concentrations correlated with CAD-score (r(s)=0.156; p<0.0001) and inversely with antioxidants lycopene (r(s)=-0.277; p<0.0001) and lutein+zeaxanthin (r(s)=-0.175; p<0.0001) levels and with vitamins ascorbic acid (r(s)=-0.207; p<0.0001) and alpha-tocopherol (r(s)=-0.105; p<0.0001). The study demonstrates that higher neopterin production is associated with lower concentrations of antioxidant compounds in patients at risk for atherosclerosis. Results suggest that lower concentrations of antioxidant compounds may relate to higher grade of chronic immune activation in patients.
Division of Biological Chemistry, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
Christian
C
Murr
Brigitte M
BM
Winklhofer-Roob
Katharina
K
Schroecksnadel
Michaela
M
Maritschnegg
Harald
H
Mangge
Bernhard O
BO
Böhm
Bernhard R
BR
Winkelmann
Winfried
W
März
Dietmar
D
Fuchs
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012307:Risk Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; C041635:alpha-carotene; D019798:Neopterin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D000077276:Lycopene; D014975:Lutein