Serum Trace Element Profiles, Prolactin, and Cortisol in Transient Ischemic Attack Patients

Abstract

The primary aim of the present study was to assess the association between trace element status, brain damage biomarkers, cortisol, and prolactin levels in transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients. Ten male and 10 female TIA patients were involved in this study. Age, gender, and BMI-matched volunteers served as the respective control group. Serum samples were examined for complement components C4 and C3a, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), S100B, NR2 antibodies (NR2Ab), total antioxidant status (TAS), cortisol, and prolactin. Trace element concentration in serum samples was assessed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry at NexION 300D. The obtained data indicate that both male and female TIA patients were characterized by the increased C4 and prolactin concentrations. At the same time, serum VEGF levels were elevated in only men, whereas TAS values were decreased in women with TIA. Serum cortisol concentrations were significantly increased only in female TIA patients. Men and women with TIA were characterized by a 32 and 44 % decrease in serum Fe content. A two- and threefold increase in serum V content was observed in TIA females and males, respectively. Women with TIA had 60 % higher values of serum B, whereas male patients were characterized by a sevonfold increase in boron content in comparison to the control values. TIA also resulted in decreased serum Cu content in women and elevation of I, Li, Mn, Se, Zn, As, Pb, Ni, and Sr levels in men. Correlation analysis revealed a significant association between trace elements concentration and the studied parameters.

Disturbed Ratios between Essential and Toxic Trace Elements as Potential Biomarkers of Acute Ischemic Stroke

“…There is increasing evidence that Pb toxicity is associated with increased oxidative stress due to ROS formation (reactive oxygen species), depletion of antioxidant capacity and increased lipid peroxidation [ 105 , 106 , 107 ]. Clinical research has revealed that high and low blood levels of Pb can adversely affect cardiovascular health, resulting in an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke [ 32 , 54 , 55 , 58 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 ]. In order to establish a link between trace elements and stroke, Medina Estévez et al [ 113 ] evaluated 45 elements and found that Pb was positively associated with ischemic stroke in both univariate and multivariate analyses.…”

Research progress on the role of hormones in ischemic stroke

“…In the cerebral ischemia model, PRL reduced the cerebral infarction area and cerebral water content and restored the physiological status ( 128 ). Transient ischemic attack increased PRL concentrations and increased plasma PRL levels were significantly linked with platelet P-selectin ( 129 , 130 ). Platelet surface P-selectin expression was associated with a worsening clinical course in acute ischemic stroke ( 131 ).…”

Ischemic Stroke, Glucocorticoids, and Remote Hippocampal Damage: A Translational Outlook and Implications for Modeling

“…According to the results of high-throughput profiling of the circulating proteome, there are significant sex-associated differences in GC signaling following IS ( O’Connell et al, 2018 ). In a cohort of patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIA), serum cortisol levels were significantly increased only in females ( Klimenko et al, 2016 ).…”