Serum S-glutathionylated proteins as a potential biomarker of carotid artery stenosis.

OBJECTIVE

As oxidative stress is known to be associated with the development of atherosclerosis, we investigated whether the serum S-glutathionylated proteins were increased in patients with carotid artery stenosis (CS).

METHODS

Fifty-four patients with CS and 20 age-matched non-CS patients were involved in this study. S-glutathionylated proteins in serum were examined by immunoblot analysis using an antibody against S-glutathionylated bovine serum albumin.

RESULTS

The antibody against S-glutathionylated bovine serum albumin was confirmed to specifically recognize the serum S-glutathionylated proteins in patient samples. The S-glutathionylated proteins in serum were significantly increased in the patients with CS (p<0.01) compared to the non-CS patients, and the increase did not depend on the stage of CS. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the serum levels of S-glutathionylated proteins were associated with the development of CS (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Oxidative stress likely contributes to the development of CS, and serum S-glutathionylated proteins may be a potential biomarker of CS.