DNA damage products (5'R)- and (5'S)-8,5'-cyclo-2'-deoxyadenosines as potential biomarkers in human urine for atherosclerosis.

We hypothesized that DNA damage products (5'R)-8,5'-cyclo-2'-deoxyadenosine (R-cdA) and (5'S)-8,5'-cyclo-2'-deoxyadenosine (S-cdA) may be well-suited biomarkers of risk and diagnosis for atherosclerosis. We tested this hypothesis by measuring the levels of R-cdA and S-cdA and another product, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), in urine of atherosclerosis patients and healthy individuals using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with isotope dilution. We showed the presence of these products at significantly greater concentrations in urine of atherosclerosis patients than in that of healthy individuals. Our data suggest that R-cdA and S-cdA can be accurately and reproducibly measured in human urine as potential biomarkers of risk and diagnosis for atherosclerosis.