title: Homocysteine & its metabolite homocysteine-thiolactone & deficiency of copper in patients with age related macular degeneration - A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a leading cause of blindness, particularly in persons above 60 yr of age. Homocysteine is implicated in many ocular diseases including ARMD. This study was undertaken to assess the status and relationship between plasma homocysteine, homocysteine - thiolactone, homocysteinylated protein and copper levels in patients with ARMD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 16 patients with ARMD and 16 age-matched controls were recruited for the study. Plasma glutathione, homocysteine, homocysteine - thiolactone and extent of homocysteine conjugation with proteins, copper and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Homocysteine levels were elevated with increase in homocysteine-thiolactone, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and a decrease of glutathione. The levels of homocysteinylated protein were elevated in ARMD. The elevated homocysteine, homocysteine-thiolactone correlated with the decrease in copper level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated homocysteine and its metabolite homocysteine-thiolactone and decreased levels of copper may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ARMD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya & Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Muthuvel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bharathselvi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya & Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Sayantan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya & Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya & Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Radhakrishnan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Selvi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya & Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Karunakaran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Coral
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya & Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Angayarkanni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narayanansamy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya & Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Sivaramakrishnan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya & Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Konerirajapuram N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Sulochana
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D006710:Homocysteine; D003300:Copper; C007957:homocysteine thiolactone; D005978:Glutathione