Oxygen-Derived Free Radicals as Mediators of Varicose Vein Wall Damage

Abstract

Varicose saphenous vein segments, segments of those veins with thrombophlebitis, and segments of normal veins obtained during operation on 23 patients were studied to define the pattern of pro-oxidative and antioxidative systems in these tissues. In segments of varicose veins (VV) the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was significantly decreased as compared with normal veins: 7.8 ±2.9 vs 13.5 ±4.3 U/mg of protein (P < 0.05), but it was almost unchanged in the segments of W with thrombophlebitis. The activity of glutathione reductase (GSH-R) in all studied segments was similar and amounted to about 12.0 IU.

The content of free sulfhydryl (SH) groups, the concentration of ascorbic acid, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS) in segments of VV were significantly decreased by 40%, 48%, and 47%, respectively (P < 0.05) as compared with segments of normal veins. The values of ascorbic acid and TBA-RS in the segments of W with thrombophlebitis were increased by 13% and 16%, respectively, as compared with segments of normal veins. Decreased activities of SOD and reduced levels of free SH-groups and of ascorbic acid concentration in W may indicate impaired antioxidant mechanisms in this tissue.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Gandhi RH , Irizarry E , Nackman GB , et al: Analysis of the connective tissue matrix and proteolytic activity of primary varicose veins. J Vasc Surg 18:814-820, 1993.

2. Michiels C , Arnould T , Remacle J : Hypoxia induced activation of endothelial cells as a possible cause of venous diseases: Hypothesis. Angiology 44:639-646, 1993.

3. Siesjo BK , Bengtsson F : Calcium fluxes, calcium antagonist and spreading depression: A unifying hypothesis. J Cereb Blood Flow Metabol 9:127-140, 1989.

4. Biagi G , Lapilli A , Zendron R , et al: Prostanoid production in varicose veins: Evidence for decreased prostacyclin with increased tromboxane A2 and prostaglandin E2 formation. Angiology 39:1036-1042, 1988.

5. Godin C , Caprani A , Defaux J : Interaction between neutrophils and endothelial cells. J Cell Sci 106:441-452, 1993.

6. Furie MB , Naprstek BL , Silvestein SC : Migration of neurophils across monolayers of cultured microvascular endothelial cells: An in vitro model of leukocyte extravasation. J Cell Sci 88:161-175, 1987.

7. Del Maestro RF , Thaw HH , Bjork J , et al: Free radicals as mediators of tissue injury. Acta Physiol Scand 492 (suppl):43-57, 1980.

8. Fridovich I : The biology of oxygen radicals. The superoxide radical is an agent of oxygen toxicity; superoxide dismutases provide an important defense. Science 201:875-880, 1978.

9. Harlan JM , Levine JD , Callanan KS , et al: Glutathione redox cycle protects cultured endothelial cells against lysis by extracellularly generated hydrogen peroxide. J Clin Invest 73:706-713, 1984.

10.

10. Arroyo CM , Carmichael AJ , Bouscarel B , et al: Endothelial cells as source of oxygen-free radicals. An ESR study. Free Radic Res Commun 9:287-296, 1990.

11.

11. Babbs CF , Cregor MD , Turek JJ , et al: Endothelial superoxide production in the isolated rat heart during early reperfusion after ischemia. A histochemical study. Am J Pathol 139:1069-1080, 1991.

12.

12. Inauen W , Payne DK , Kvietys PR , et al: Hypoxia/reoxygenation increases the permeability of endothelial cell monolayers: Role of oxygen radicals. Free Radic Biol Med 9:219-223, 1990.

13.

13. Granger DN , Benoit JN , Suzuki M , et al: Leukocyte adherence to venular endothelium during ischemia-reperfusion. Am J Physiol 257:G683-G688, 1989.

14.

14. Madden MC , Eling TE , Friedman M : Ozone inhibits endothelial cell cyclooxygenase activity through formation of hydrogen peroxide. Prostaglandins 34:445-463, 1987.

15.

15. Lowry OH , Rosenbrough NJ , Farr AL , et al: Protein measurement with Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 153:265-275, 1951.

16.

16. Sykes JA , McCormac FX , O'Brien TJ : Preliminary study of the superoxide dismutase content of some human tumors. Cancer Res 38:2759-2762, 1978.

17.

17. Mize CE , Langdau RG : Hepatic glutathione reductase. I. Purification and general kinetic properties. J Biol Chem 237:1589-1595, 1962.

18.

18. Ellman GL : Tissue sulfhydryl groups. Arch Biochem Biophys 82:70-77, 1959.

19.

19. Buege JA , Aust SD : Microsomal lipid peroxidation. Methods Enzymol 51:302-310, 1978.

20.

20. Kyaw A : A simple colorimetric method for ascorbic acid determination in blood plasma. Clin Chim Acta 86:153-157, 1978.

21.

21. Clarke AU , Vasdenis SN , Hobbs JI , et al: Venous wall function in the pathogenesis of varicose veins. Surgery 111:402-408, 1992.

22.

22. Palluy O , Bonne C , Modat G : Hypoxia/reoxygenation alters the endothelial prostacyclin synthesis protection by superoxide dismutase. Free Radic Biol Med 11:269-275, 1991.

23.

23. Hass MA , Massaro D : Regulation of the synthesis of superoxide dismutases in rat lungs during oxidant and hyperthermic stress. J Biol Chem 263:776-781, 1988.

24.

24. Sjostrom K , Crapo JO : Structural and biochemical adaptative changes in rat lungs after exposure to hypoxia. Lab Invest 48:68-79, 1983.

25.

25. Korthius RJ , Granger DN , Townsley MI , et al: The role of oxygen-derived free radicals in ischemia-induced increases in canine skeletal muscle vascular permeability. Circ Res 57:599-609, 1985.

26.

26. Oredsson S , Plate G , Quarfordt P : Allopurinol-a free radical scavenrger-reduces reperfusion injury in skeletal muscle. Eur J Vasc Surg 5:47-52, 1991.

27.

27. Furie MB , McHugh DD : Migration of neutrophils across endothelial monolayers is stimulated by treatment of the monolayers with interleukin-1 or tumor necrosis factor oc. J Immunol 143:3309-3317, 1989.

28.

28. Sharma MK , Buettner GR : Interaction of vitamin C and vitamin E during free radical stress in plasma: An ESR study. Free Radic Biol Med 14:649-653, 1993.

29.

29. Buettner GR : The pecking order of free radicals and antioxidants: Lipid peroxidation, ox-tocopherol, and ascorbate. Arch Biochem Biophys 300:535-543, 1993.

30.

30. Niki E : Vitamin C as antioxidant. World Rev Nutrit Dietetics 64:1-30, 1991.