Ciari I, Terzuoli L, Porcelli B, Coppola M G, Marinello E
Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine-Metabolic Science and Biochemistry, Siena University, Siena, Italy.
Nucleosides Nucleotides Nucleic Acids. 2008 Jun;27(6):624-7. doi: 10.1080/15257770802138608.
Free radical excess and oxidative stress are implicated in the formation and progression of atherosclerotic plaque through actions on susceptible vascular cells, such as by activating xanthine oxidase. Purine bases and other antioxidant compounds could play important protective roles in atherogenesis, as could nonenzymatic low molecular weight thiol defenses, not previously evaluated in carotid artery plaque. Therefore, we measured purine catabolites (hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid, allantoin) and antioxidant compounds (total sulphydryl groups, homocysteine, cysteine, and glutathione) in advanced carotid artery plaque and found a high ratio of allantoin to uric acid, suggesting a ongoing local oxidative stress.
