Oxidative stress and inflammation in ischemic heart disease: role of trace elements, oxidants and antioxidants

Abstract

Objective Clinical evidence suggests oxidative stress and inflammation linked to reactive oxygen species (ROS) over generation may be
a key in the pathogenesis of certain disease. Cardiovascular disease is one example of this process. ROS have been proposed to be the
mediators of inflammation in experimental cardiovascular pathology. Till now, areas with regard to the effects of ROS in the ischemic heart
disease (IHD) are not completely understood. The present study was conducted to investigate the involvement of inflammation as a
consequence of oxidative stress in the pathology of IHD.
Methods Serum lipid profile, trace element, antioxidant enzyme activities [catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD)], hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2) and the inflammation marker (TNF-α and IL-6) were measured in 50 patients with IHD and 50 healthy subjects as control
group. All results were statistically analysed.
Results A highly significant decrease was found in the serum level of both zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in patients with IHD compared to
control (P < 0.05). Serum levels of antioxidants (SOD, CAT) were also significantly decreased in the patient group (P < 0.05) compared to
control. However, H2O2 and cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) levels demonstrated a significant increase in IHD patients (P < 0.01).
Conclusion The results of the present study provide evidences that oxidative stress, inflammation and trace element are closely linked
and involved in IHD that may have future role in developing new therapeutic strategies.