title: Reduced metal ion concentrations in atherosclerotic plaques from subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transition metal ions have been implicated in atherosclerosis. The goal of this study was to investigate whether metal ion levels were higher in people with diabetes, in view of their increased risk of aggravated atherosclerosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Absolute concentrations of iron, copper, zinc and calcium, and products of protein and lipid oxidation were quantified in atherosclerotic lesions from subjects with (T2DM, n=27), without Type 2 diabetes (nonDM, n=22), or hyperglycaemia (HG, n=17). Iron (P<0.05), zinc (P<0.01) and calcium (P=0.01) were lower in T2DM compared to nonDM subjects. Copper levels were comparable. A strong correlation (r=0.618; P<0.001) between EPR-detectable and total iron in nonDM patients was not seen in T2DM. X-ray fluorescence microscopy revealed "hot spots" of iron in both T2DM and nonDM. Calcium and zinc co-localised and levels correlated strongly. F(2)-isoprostanes (P<0.05) and di-Tyr/Tyr ratio (P<0.025), oxidative damage markers were decreased in T2DM compared to nonDM, or HG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advanced atherosclerotic lesions from T2DM subjects unexpectedly contained lower levels of transition metal ions, and protein and lipid oxidation products, compared to nonDM and HG. These data do not support the hypothesis that elevated metal ion levels may be a major causative factor in the aggravated atherosclerosis observed in T2DM patients.
authors.affiliation: The Heart Research Institute, Newtown, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Nadina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stadler
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heeneman
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vöö
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: Gregory I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.forename: Bevan P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Gang
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Croft
authors.forename: Trevor A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vacata
authors.forename: Mat J A P
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Daemen
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waltenberger
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D028441:F2-Isoprostanes / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009426:Netherlands; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D028441:F2-Isoprostanes; D008055:Lipids; D008670:Metals; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium