The isoprostane, 8-epi-PGF_2α, is accumulated in coronary arteries isolated from patients with coronary heart disease

Abstract

Objective: In the present study we wanted to know whether 8-epi-PGF_2α, which belongs to the class of isoprostanes formed by free radical-mediated peroxidation of arachidonic acid and arachidonyl-containing phospholipids, is enriched in isolated coronary arteries of patients suffering from coronary heart disease (CHD, n=23) who received allograft heart transplants as compared to vessels derived from patients with dilative cardiomyopathy (CMP, n=19) or from healthy heart donors (controls, n=6). Methods: Sections from the isolated coronary arteries were analysed by semiquantitative immunohistochemistry by determining the area and intensity of positive reaction for 8-epi-PGF_2α in the vascular intima and media. In addition, the 8-epi-PGF_2α content was determined using a specific immunoassay after extraction and purification. Results: The immunohistochemical results indicated that 8-epi-PGF_2α is significantly enriched in arteries from patients suffering from CHD as compared to CMP (P<0.0001). In controls, significantly less immunostaining was observed. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation between semiquantitative immunohistochemistry and radioimmunological determination was observed too. Conclusions: From our findings we conclude that 8-epi-PGF_2α is especially accumulated in coronary arteries from CHD patients and therefore is likely to be involved in atherogenesis.

Atherosclerosis, Coronary disease, Free radicals, Cardiomyopathy, Prostaglandins