Concentrations of iron correlate with the extent of protein, but not lipid, oxidation in advanced human atherosclerotic lesions

Iron concentrations in atherosclerotic plaque and serum in patients with carotid atherosclerosis

“…This study complements previous studies on the levels of metal ions in advanced human atherosclerotic lesions (20,21,23). Unlike these previous studies this work has quantified these parameters in two sample groups.…”

“…On the other hand, excess iron could be harmful because it is able to catalyse the formation of highly reactive oxygen and hydrogen radicals when present in the unbound state. Transition metal ions, established catalysts of protein, lipid and DNA oxidation, are present at elevated levels in human atherosclerotic plaques, and in some animal models, consistent with the hypothesis that metal ions contribute to both plaque formation and its destabilization (19,21,23), though the role of metal ions remains controversial (16,29).Epidemiological studies have reported an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in subjects with overt iron overload (7,8,19). Recent studies on cardiovascular evaluation and outcome in high-versus low-frequency blood donors have demonstrated improvements in surrogate markers of vascular health such as decreased oxidative stress, and…”

“…On the other hand, excess iron could be harmful because it is able to catalyse the formation of highly reactive oxygen and hydrogen radicals when present in the unbound state. Transition metal ions, established catalysts of protein, lipid and DNA oxidation, are present at elevated levels in human atherosclerotic plaques, and in some animal models, consistent with the hypothesis that metal ions contribute to both plaque formation and its destabilization (19,21,23), though the role of metal ions remains controversial (16,29).…”

“…They found elevated levels of iron in the intima of lesions compared with healthy controls. In a later work (23), iron levels in human atherosclerotic plaque correlated positively and strongly with multiple markers of protein oxidation.…”

“…Although convincing evidence has been previously provided for elevated levels of iron and copper ions in advanced human lesions (21,23), and for a correlation between metal ion levels and the extent of protein oxidation (23), these studies have not examined specific populations. Current evidence and pathophysiological considerations suggest that the increased intraplaque iron deposition may be associated with increased oxidative stress, affecting the stability of the carotid plaque (12).…”