Lorenzo Loffredo1, Victoria Ivanov2, Nicolae Ciobanu2, Elena Deseatnicova3, Evgenii Gutu4, Ludmila Mudrea2, Mihaela Ivanov2, Cristina Nocella1, Vittoria Cammisotto5, Federica Orlando1, Arianna Pannunzio1, Ilaria Palumbo1, Mattia Cosenza1, Simona Bartimoccia1, Roberto Carnevale6,7, Francesco Violi1,7. 1. Division I Medical Clinic, Department of Clinical, Internistic, Anaesthetic and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 2. Moldavian Research Institute of Cardiology, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. 3. Department of Rheumatology and Nephrology, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. 4. 3rd Department of General Surgery, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. 5. Department of General Surgery and Surgical Speciality Paride Stefanini, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 6. Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy. 7. Mediterranea Cardiocentro, Napoli, Italy.
Abstract
Aims: Recent studies hypothesized a role of gut microbiota favoring atherosclerosis via an increased oxidative stress, but data in peripheral artery disease (PAD) have not been provided yet. The aim of this study was to assess serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as well as oxidative stress in PAD patients and controls (CT). Furthermore, we wanted to analyze the relationship between LPS and the severity of atherosclerosis in the lower limb arteries. Results: Eighty consecutive subjects, including 40 PAD patients and 40 CT were recruited. A cross-sectional study was performed to compare serum LPS, soluble Nox2-derived peptide (sNox2-dp), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), H2O2 breakdown activity (HBA) and ankle brachial index (ABI) in these two groups. Serum zonulin was used to assess gut permeability. Compared with CT, PAD patients had significant higher values of LPS, zonulin, sNox2-dp, and H2O2; conversely ABI and HBA were significantly lower in PAD patients. LPS serum levels were associated with atherosclerotic burden as depicted by the inverse correlation with ABI. LPS was also associated with oxidative stress as shown by its direct correlation with markers of oxidative stress such as sNox2-dp, serum H2O2, and HBA. Finally, we found a significant correlation between LPS and zonulin. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that LPS was significantly associated only with ABI. Innovation and Conclusion: These findings suggest that LPS is elevated in PAD patients with a close association with the atherosclerotic burden and oxidative stress. The correlation between LPS and zonulin suggests that changes in gut permeability could be a potential trigger of LPS translocation in the peripheral circulation.
Aims: Recent studies hypothesized a role of gut microbiota favoring atherosclerosis via an increased oxidative stress, but data in peripheral artery disease (PAD) have not been provided yet. The aim of this study was to assess serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as well as oxidative stress in PAD patients and controls (CT). Furthermore, we wanted to analyze the relationship between LPS and the severity of atherosclerosis in the lower limb arteries. Results: Eighty consecutive subjects, including 40 PAD patients and 40 CT were recruited. A cross-sectional study was performed to compare serum LPS, soluble Nox2-derived peptide (sNox2-dp), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), H2O2 breakdown activity (HBA) and ankle brachial index (ABI) in these two groups. Serum zonulin was used to assess gut permeability. Compared with CT, PAD patients had significant higher values of LPS, zonulin, sNox2-dp, and H2O2; conversely ABI and HBA were significantly lower in PAD patients. LPS serum levels were associated with atherosclerotic burden as depicted by the inverse correlation with ABI. LPS was also associated with oxidative stress as shown by its direct correlation with markers of oxidative stress such as sNox2-dp, serum H2O2, and HBA. Finally, we found a significant correlation between LPS and zonulin. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that LPS was significantly associated only with ABI. Innovation and Conclusion: These findings suggest that LPS is elevated in PAD patients with a close association with the atherosclerotic burden and oxidative stress. The correlation between LPS and zonulin suggests that changes in gut permeability could be a potential trigger of LPS translocation in the peripheral circulation.