Somatic DNA damage and causative factors (occupational exposures, foods and habits etc.) are thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, although knowledge about their role in coronary artery disease is still insufficient. This study aimed to determine the effects of lymphocyte-DNA damage and blood-trace element concentrations on coronary artery disease (CAD).
The single-cell alkaline comet was used in the measuring of the lymphocyte DNA damage in blood samples obtained from patients (n=99) whose CAD grade was determined by the syntax score while the angiographic intervention was carried out. Blood-trace elements (n=14) concentrations were monitored by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) after the microwave digestion. The relationship between DNA damage frequencies of the participants and their syntax scores, blood-trace element concentrations, and other demographic and clinic parameters were statistically analyzed.
Significant correlations were detected between comet data and syntax score (r=0.858, p<0.001), age (r=0.337, p<0.001), blood-urea (r=0.360, p<0.001), -creatinine (r=0.388, p<0.001), -HbA1c (0.218, p<0.05), ECG-QRS time (r=0.286, p<0.01), ECHO-EF (r=-0.377, p<0.001) and platelet (r=-0.222, p<0.05). The DNA damage frequencies of the groups formed according to their CAD scores were significantly different from the control group (p<0.001) and also each other (p≤0.01). Comet frequencies and CAD grades were found to be correlated with aging (p<0.05). DNA damage frequency and syntax score values were significantly (p<0.05) higher in males compare to females. Syntax scores were correlated with aging (r=0.348, p<0.01), ECHO-EF (r=0.374, p<0.001), -blood-urea (r=0.398, p<0.001), -creatinine (r=0.433, p<0.001), -glucose (0.218, p<0.05) and -HbA1c (r=0.200, p<0.05). Significant correlations were observed between trace elements and demographic values, blood parameters, diseases, angio parameters, ECHO and ECG parameters. It was observed that the concentrations of trace elements detected in the blood were 93.4% correlated with each other.
Lymphocyte DNA damage is a strong biomarker for the atherosclerotic indicator of CAD. Aging is an effective factor both on the DNA damage frequency and CAD risk index. Creatinine and urea are factors that have the power the change the CAD risk index and DNA damage frequency. The higher DNA damage and CAD risk were monitored in male compare to female. The relationship between some biomarkers and blood trace element concentrations showed that further studies are needed to more accurately evaluate the relationship between trace elements, DNA damage frequencies and coronary artery disease.
