Oxidative Stress and Changes of Important Metabolic Gene Expressions as a Potential Biomarker in the Diagnosis of Atherosclerosis in Leukocytes

ABSTRACT Introduction: Presenilin 1 (PSEN1), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) play a vital role in prediction, diagnosis and therapy of metabolic disorders. Methods: Metabolic enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation in serum of cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) and coronary artery diseases were measured by spectrophotometric methods. mRNA was isolated from leukocytes of the patient group and healthy adult patients. Quantitative gene expression of PSEN1, CAT and GST mRNA was identified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: The PSEN1, CAT and GST expression in patients showed significant differences compared to the control group. PSEN1 expression in leukocytes was significantly about twice as high as that of the control group in patients with CVD. The GST, CAT and PON1 activity showed significant differences in patient groups compared to the control group. Conclusion: The mRNA expression levels can be used as a potential biomarker in the diagnosis of atherosclerosis that occurs as a result of the metabolic disorder. In atherosclerotic patients, antioxidant status is independently related to an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Antioxidant activities and mRNA expressions may have predictive value, as well as available risk factors.