title: The increased level of COX-dependent arachidonic acid metabolism in blood platelets from secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: Platelet activation is increasingly postulated as a possible component of the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), especially due to the increased risk of cardiovascular events in MS. Arachidonic acid cascade metabolized by cyclooxygenase (COX) is a key pathway of platelet activation. The aim of our study was to investigate the COX-dependent arachidonic acid metabolic pathway in blood platelets from secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SP MS) patients. The blood samples were obtained from 50 patients (man n = 22; female n = 28), suffering from SP MS, diagnosed according to the revised McDonald criteria. Platelet aggregation was measured in platelet-rich plasma after arachidonic acid stimulation. The level of COX activity and thromboxane B2 concentration were determined by ELISA method. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by measuring the level of malondialdehyde. The results were compared with a control group of healthy volunteers. We found that blood platelets obtained from SP MS patients were more sensitive to arachidonic acid and their response measured as platelet aggregation was stronger (about 14 %) relative to control. We also observed a significantly increased activity of COX (about 40 %) and synthesis of thromboxane B2 (about 113 %). The generation of malondialdehyde as a marker of lipid peroxidation was about 10 % higher in SP MS than in control. Cyclooxygenase-dependent arachidonic acid metabolism is significantly increased in blood platelets of patients with SP MS. Future clinical studies are required to recommend the use of low-dose aspirin, and possibly other COX inhibitors in the prevention of cardiovascular risk in MS.
authors: Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of General Biochemistry, University of Lodz, Pomorska 141/143, 90-236, Lodz, Poland. a_g_a@o2.pl.
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Morel
authors: Department of Physical Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Pl. Hallera 1, Lodz, Poland.|Neurorehabilitation Ward, III General Hospital in Lodz, Milionowa 14, Lodz, Poland.
authors: Elzbieta
authors: E
authors: Miller
authors: Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of General Biochemistry, University of Lodz, Pomorska 141/143, 90-236, Lodz, Poland.
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Bijak
authors: Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of General Biochemistry, University of Lodz, Pomorska 141/143, 90-236, Lodz, Poland.
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Saluk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000097:blood*; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013929:Thromboxane B2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
keywords: Arachidonic acid; Blood platelets; Cyclooxygenase; Multiple sclerosis