Myeloperoxidase overexpression in children with hypercholesterolemia

Pignatelli, P.; Loffredo, L.; Martino, F.; Catasca, E.; Carnevale, R.; Zanoni, C.; Del Ben, M.; Antonini, R.; Basili, S.; Violi, F.

doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2008.10.025

« Previous Next »Atherosclerosis
Volume 205, Issue 1 , Pages 239-243, July 2009

Myeloperoxidase overexpression in children with hypercholesterolemia☆

P. Pignatelli
- Division of Internal Medicine H, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
- Corresponding author at: Division of Internal Medicine H, Viale del Policlinico 155, Roma 00161, Italy. Tel.: +39 064997777; fax: +390649970102.
L. Loffredo
- Division of Internal Medicine H, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
F. Martino
- Center of Clinic Lipid Research, Department of Pediatrics, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
E. Catasca
- Center of Clinic Lipid Research, Department of Pediatrics, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
R. Carnevale
- Division of Internal Medicine H, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
C. Zanoni
- Division of Internal Medicine H, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
M. Del Ben
- Division of Internal Medicine H, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
R. Antonini
- Division of Internal Medicine H, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Medical Therapy, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
S. Basili
- Division of Internal Medicine H, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Medical Therapy, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
F. Violi
- Division of Internal Medicine H, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy

Received 19 August 2008; received in revised form 21 October 2008; accepted 27 October 2008. published online 10 December 2008.

Abstract

Background

Studies conducted in healthy children showed that biomarkers of oxidative stress decreased with increasing age from 1 to 11 years. No data have been reported concerning the behavior of age-related oxidative stress in hypercholesterolemic children.

Objective

Aim of this study was to test if children with hypercholesterolemia have prolonged exposure to enhanced oxidative stress and to study the underlying mechanism.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study comparing 8-hydroxy-2′deoxyguanosine, oxidized-LDL and myeloperoxidase plasma levels in 95 normocholesterolemic and 95 hypercholesterolemic children.

Results

Compared to normocholesterolemic children, those with hypercholesterolemia had higher 8-hydroxy-2′deoxyguanosine, oxidized-LDL and myeloperoxidase plasma levels. A correlation analysis of the overall population showed that total cholesterol was directly correlated with 8-hydroxy-2′deoxyguanosine, oxidized-LDL and myeloperoxidase. Stepwise linear regression showed that only total cholesterol, 8-hydroxy-2′deoxyguanosine and myeloperoxidase levels predicted oxidized-LDL plasma levels. In normocholesterolemic children oxidized-LDL and myeloperoxidase plasma levels significantly decreased from first (1–5 years) to second (6–9 years) quartile of age. In hypercholesterolemic children 8-hydroxy-2′deoxyguanosine, oxidized-LDL and myeloperoxidase plasma levels did not show significant differences among quartiles of age.

Conclusion

This study shows that an early and persistent oxidative stress is detected in hypercholesterolemic children and that myeloperoxidase up-regulation might play a role.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis, Hypercholesterolemia, Oxidative stress, Children