title: Evaluation of low molecular mass thiols content in carotid atherosclerotic plaques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite the evidence that both homocysteine and cysteine are important risk factors for vascular disease and atherosclerosis no information are reported about their effective amount in plaque and on the relationship with the other low molecular weight thiols.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used capillary electrophoresis to measure thiols in both carotid plaque specimens and plasma samples from 37 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pearson's correlation shows that intraplaque homocysteine, cysteine and cysteinylglycine levels are related to their plasma concentrations. The distribution of intraplaque GSH and Glu-Cys was higher than that of the same thiols in plasma, whereas the other thiols were significantly less prevalent in plaque than in plasma. Intraplaque haemoglobin and GSH levels were correlated, thus suggesting their common origin from erythrocytes lysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data suggest that increased levels of intraplaque glutathione may induce important effects on plaque fate by perturbing the normal LMW thiol redox state.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Sassari, Italy; Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Osilo, Italy. angelozinellu@libero.it
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zinellu
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lepedda
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sotgia
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zinellu
authors.forename: Bastianina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scanu
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Turrini
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spirito
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deiana
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Formato
authors.forename: Ciriaco
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carru
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D006710:Homocysteine; C028505:cysteinylglycine; D003545:Cysteine