Plasma Total Cysteine as a Risk Factor for Vascular Disease

Abstract

Background-Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although cysteine is structurally similar and metabolically linked to tHcy, its relation to the risk of cardiovascular disease has received little attention. We studied the relation between plasma total cysteine (tCys) levels and the risk of vascular disease in the coronary, cerebral, and peripheral vessels. Methods and Results-This case-control study included 750 patients with vascular disease and 800 age-and sex-matched control subjects recruited from 19 centers in 9 European countries. Conventional risk factors for cardiovascular disease were recorded. In addition, plasma levels of tCys, tHcy, folate, B 6 , B 12 , and creatinine were measured. Overall, a U-shaped relationship was observed between tCys and risk of vascular disease. With the middle range of 250 to 275 mol/L tCys used as the reference category, the adjusted risk of vascular disease at low (Յ225 mol/L) tCys levels was 2.1 (95% CI 1.2 to 3.6), and the risk at high (Ͼ300 mol/L) tCys levels was 1.6 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.3). Different shapes of the dose-response relationship were seen for the 3 vascular disease categories. The relation with peripheral vascular and cerebrovascular disease was U-shaped, whereas a weak positive relation was observed with coronary heart disease. Conclusions-Our data show a significant U-shaped relationship between tCys and cardiovascular disease after adjustment for tHcy, creatinine, and other cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Plasma Total Cysteine, Mortality, and Cardiovascular Disease Hospitalizations: The Hordaland Homocysteine Study

“…The highest MR was for the combination of low tCys and high tHcy. In agreement with this, using data from the European Concerted Action Project, we have previously found that the highest risk for CVD was for the combination of low tCys and high tHcy (20 ).…”

“…We have previously evaluated the association between tCys and the risk of CVD, using the European Concerted Action Project data. In this case-control study, tCys had a U-shaped relationship with peripheral and cerebrovascular disease and a weak positive relationship with coronary heart disease (20 ).…”

Hyper-homocysteinemia Inducing Hyperuricemia: What are the Mechanisms?

“…It is known that H-Hcy favors atherosclerosis by several mechanisms, such as the reduction of methylation index inducing endothelial dysfunction and smooth muscle cell proliferation. Other mechanisms are: oxidative stress, nuclear factor kb activation, inflammation, and inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide synthase or increased platelets' aggregation [17][18][19]. Recently, it was also affirmed that both hyperuricemia and H-Hcy could become mutually stronger [20].…”

Plasma thiols and their determinants in phenylketonuria

“…Cysteine has also recently been linked to increased risk of vascular disease (El-Khairy et al, 2001). Moreover, cysteine is a precursor of glutathione, a tripeptide that plays a key role in detoxification of free radicals (Roediger, 1995).…”