Reduced metal ion concentrations in atherosclerotic plaques from subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  • Nadina Stadler
  • Sylvia Heeneman
  • Stefan Vöö
  • Naomi Stanley
  • Gregory I Giles
  • Bevan P Gang
  • Kevin D Croft
  • Trevor A Mori
  • Vladimir Vacata
  • Mat J A P Daemen
  • Johannes Waltenberger
  • Davies, Michael J.

AIMS: Transition metal ions have been implicated in atherosclerosis. The goal of this study was to investigate whether metal ion levels were higher in people with diabetes, in view of their increased risk of aggravated atherosclerosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Absolute concentrations of iron, copper, zinc and calcium, and products of protein and lipid oxidation were quantified in atherosclerotic lesions from subjects with (T2DM, n=27), without Type 2 diabetes (nonDM, n=22), or hyperglycaemia (HG, n=17). Iron (P<0.05), zinc (P<0.01) and calcium (P=0.01) were lower in T2DM compared to nonDM subjects. Copper levels were comparable. A strong correlation (r=0.618; P<0.001) between EPR-detectable and total iron in nonDM patients was not seen in T2DM. X-ray fluorescence microscopy revealed "hot spots" of iron in both T2DM and nonDM. Calcium and zinc co-localised and levels correlated strongly. F(2)-isoprostanes (P<0.05) and di-Tyr/Tyr ratio (P<0.025), oxidative damage markers were decreased in T2DM compared to nonDM, or HG.

CONCLUSION: Advanced atherosclerotic lesions from T2DM subjects unexpectedly contained lower levels of transition metal ions, and protein and lipid oxidation products, compared to nonDM and HG. These data do not support the hypothesis that elevated metal ion levels may be a major causative factor in the aggravated atherosclerosis observed in T2DM patients.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAtherosclerosis
Volume222
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)512-8
Number of pages7
ISSN0021-9150
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2012
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Autopsy, Calcium, Carotid Arteries, Carotid Artery Diseases, Copper, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Diabetic Angiopathies, Down-Regulation, Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy, F2-Isoprostanes, Female, Humans, Iron, Lipids, Male, Mass Spectrometry, Metals, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Netherlands, Oxidation-Reduction, Plaque, Atherosclerotic, Zinc

ID: 128975076