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Plasma nitrite concentrations reflect the degree of endothelial dysfunction in humans

Plasma nitrite concentrations reflect the degree of endothelial dysfunction in humans
Plasma nitrite concentrations reflect the degree of endothelial dysfunction in humans
A reduced nitric oxide availability is a hallmark of endothelial dysfunction occurring early in atherosclerosis. Recently, we have shown that plasma nitrite mirrors acute changes in endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity in various mammals, including humans. Here, we examined the hypothesis that plasma nitrite levels are reduced in humans with endothelial dysfunction and the decrease is correlated with increasing numbers of cardiovascular risk factors (RF). Plasma nitrite concentrations were quantified by flow-injection analysis. The coefficient of variation for repeated measurements of plasma nitrite was <8%, and heart rate and blood pressure at the time of blood sampling had no significant effect on nitrite values measured (n=10). Baseline levels of plasma nitrite followed a normal distribution in each group studied and decreased progressively with increasing numbers of cardiovascular risk factors (n=351, p<0.001): 351+/-13 (0 RF), 261+/-10 (1 RF), 253+/-11 (2 RF), 222+/-18 (3 RF), and 171+/-29 nmol/L (4 RF). Intima media thickness (IMT) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were determined via ultrasound. Plasma nitrite and FMD levels were lower, whereas IMT was greater in individuals with endothelial dysfunction (n=12) compared to healthy volunteers (n=12). Nitrite correlated significantly with FMD (r=0.56, p<0.001) and inversely with IMT (r= -0.49, p<0.01). Plasma nitrite levels are reliably measurable in humans, indicate endothelial dysfunction, and correlate with cardiovascular risk factors. Future studies are necessary to identify the prognostic relevance of plasma nitrite determination in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease.
free radicals
8755-9668
295-302
Kleinbongard, Petra
ec93ff61-c3f2-4d2e-a465-59cc949315bb
Dejam, André
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Lauer, Thomas
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Jax, Thomas
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Kerber, Stefan
bcbe22cb-b9c0-4518-9af1-d3544f7b7780
Gharini, Putrika
e056fe66-6c4e-41b1-a368-061aba4a5e1e
Balzer, Jan
75f69d83-70ac-4a18-8667-5cb1e4fc8509
Zotz, Rainer B.
fd54e319-53b7-4ac3-93f2-5ad5e286d8ec
Scharf, Rüdiger E.
760af940-ae67-41bc-96b9-cc780fdc92c4
Willers, Reinhart
8e432576-56ac-4db5-b2e1-d2b4647957de
Schechter, Alan N.
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Feelisch, Martin
8c1b9965-8614-4e85-b2c6-458a2e17eafd
Kelm, Malte
db2bb062-32d7-4b50-9f65-8ba89ffa5f42
Kleinbongard, Petra
ec93ff61-c3f2-4d2e-a465-59cc949315bb
Dejam, André
f3491272-d900-4d46-91ed-a684b5c14e42
Lauer, Thomas
57e1e8b6-cfc8-40ac-a946-5ad6e3387477
Jax, Thomas
1129c70d-150e-4904-9e63-dca028a07453
Kerber, Stefan
bcbe22cb-b9c0-4518-9af1-d3544f7b7780
Gharini, Putrika
e056fe66-6c4e-41b1-a368-061aba4a5e1e
Balzer, Jan
75f69d83-70ac-4a18-8667-5cb1e4fc8509
Zotz, Rainer B.
fd54e319-53b7-4ac3-93f2-5ad5e286d8ec
Scharf, Rüdiger E.
760af940-ae67-41bc-96b9-cc780fdc92c4
Willers, Reinhart
8e432576-56ac-4db5-b2e1-d2b4647957de
Schechter, Alan N.
99875fd2-e998-4997-afce-02b548431248
Feelisch, Martin
8c1b9965-8614-4e85-b2c6-458a2e17eafd
Kelm, Malte
db2bb062-32d7-4b50-9f65-8ba89ffa5f42

Kleinbongard, Petra, Dejam, André, Lauer, Thomas, Jax, Thomas, Kerber, Stefan, Gharini, Putrika, Balzer, Jan, Zotz, Rainer B., Scharf, Rüdiger E., Willers, Reinhart, Schechter, Alan N., Feelisch, Martin and Kelm, Malte (2006) Plasma nitrite concentrations reflect the degree of endothelial dysfunction in humans. Advances in Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 40 (2), 295-302. (doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2005.08.025). (PMID:16413411)

Record type: Article

Abstract

A reduced nitric oxide availability is a hallmark of endothelial dysfunction occurring early in atherosclerosis. Recently, we have shown that plasma nitrite mirrors acute changes in endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity in various mammals, including humans. Here, we examined the hypothesis that plasma nitrite levels are reduced in humans with endothelial dysfunction and the decrease is correlated with increasing numbers of cardiovascular risk factors (RF). Plasma nitrite concentrations were quantified by flow-injection analysis. The coefficient of variation for repeated measurements of plasma nitrite was <8%, and heart rate and blood pressure at the time of blood sampling had no significant effect on nitrite values measured (n=10). Baseline levels of plasma nitrite followed a normal distribution in each group studied and decreased progressively with increasing numbers of cardiovascular risk factors (n=351, p<0.001): 351+/-13 (0 RF), 261+/-10 (1 RF), 253+/-11 (2 RF), 222+/-18 (3 RF), and 171+/-29 nmol/L (4 RF). Intima media thickness (IMT) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were determined via ultrasound. Plasma nitrite and FMD levels were lower, whereas IMT was greater in individuals with endothelial dysfunction (n=12) compared to healthy volunteers (n=12). Nitrite correlated significantly with FMD (r=0.56, p<0.001) and inversely with IMT (r= -0.49, p<0.01). Plasma nitrite levels are reliably measurable in humans, indicate endothelial dysfunction, and correlate with cardiovascular risk factors. Future studies are necessary to identify the prognostic relevance of plasma nitrite determination in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 10 November 2005
Published date: 15 January 2006
Keywords: free radicals
Organisations: Clinical & Experimental Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 337835
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/337835
ISSN: 8755-9668
PURE UUID: 9c7d233e-9cbd-465e-8c53-9646a5100ba0
ORCID for Martin Feelisch: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2320-1158

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Date deposited: 06 Jun 2012 10:21
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:41

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Contributors

Author: Petra Kleinbongard
Author: André Dejam
Author: Thomas Lauer
Author: Thomas Jax
Author: Stefan Kerber
Author: Putrika Gharini
Author: Jan Balzer
Author: Rainer B. Zotz
Author: Rüdiger E. Scharf
Author: Reinhart Willers
Author: Alan N. Schechter
Author: Martin Feelisch ORCID iD
Author: Malte Kelm

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