Homocysteine is related to neopterin and endothelin-1 in plasma of subjects with disturbed glucose metabolism and reference subjects.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for vascular disease. In order to evaluate relations between hyperhomocysteinemia and endothelial and leukocyte function, the investigators related homocysteine to indices of endothelial function (plasma endothelin-1 [p-ET-1] and intraplatelet levels of the nitric oxide [NO] and prostacyclin mediators 3'-5' guanosine monophosphate [cGMP] and cyclic 3'-5' adenosine monophosphate [cAMP]) and the monocyte-derived inflammatory mediator neopterin in 168 men (mean age 69, range 49-72 years) with disturbed glucose metabolism and a reference group of 52 male subjects (mean age 70, range 61-79 years). Among the 168 patients with disturbed glucose metabolism plasma (p)-homocysteine correlated significantly with age (r=0.20; p<0.01), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (r=0.17; p<0.05), triglycerides (r=0.20; p<0.05), intraplatelet GMP (r=0.16; p<0.05), p-ET-1 (r=0.21; p<0.05), and p-neopterin (r=0.31; p<0.001). The correlation between p-homocysteine and p-ET-1 persisted (p<0.01) in multiple regression analysis. Among the 52 reference subjects p-homocysteine correlated significantly with p-ET-1 (r=0.32; p<0.05) and p-neopterin (r=0.37; p<0.01). The correlation between p-homocysteine and p-neopterin persisted (p<0.05) in multiple regression analysis. In conclusion, homocysteine is related to neopterin and endothelin-1 in plasma of subjects with disturbed glucose metabolism and in reference subjects, suggesting that homocysteine exerts its deleterious effects on vascular function through interference with endothelial and leukocyte function.