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Abstract

In 63 patients affected by Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) (limited subset: 40; diffuse subset: 23; early: 30; advanced: 33) the peroxidation product diene-conjugates (DC) and antibodies against oxidised low density lipoproteins (Ab oxLDL) were tested in serum by a spectrophotometer (absorbance 234 mn) and by a standard ELISA respectively. The data were compared with those obtained by 21 healthy subjects. DC was significantly higher in patients (73.3 +/- 37.2 microM/l; p < 0.0001) than in controls (48.4 +/- 16.7) as well as in the limited (80 +/- 48.8; p < 0.05) than in the diffuse subset (64.5 +/- 36.4); and in early (84.1 +/- 31.4; p < 0.05) than in advanced stage of the disease (67.9 +/- 42.5). The levels of Ab oxLDL were significantly higher in SSc patients (309.5 +/- 367.2 mU/ml; p < 0.0001) in all its subsets (limited: 351.9 +/- 351.1, p < 0.0001; diffuse: 207.7 +/- 316.1, p < 0.05; early: 428.9 +/- 417.1, p < 0.001; advanced: 302.7 +/- 89.9, p < 0.0001) than in controls (89.3 +/- 29.1). These antibodies levels were higher in limited subset than in diffuse (p < 0.05) and in early SSc than in advanced SSc (p < 0.05). The highest values of parameters of oxidative stress are found in the early stages, when the episodes of reperfusion after ischemic episodes (Raynaud's phenomenon) are very frequent. Moreover, the damage is higher in the early stages of SSc, with intact microvessels, than in late stages, when microvessels are very reduced in number, destroyed by the worsening of the disease. These data show that the respiratory burst deduced by the lipoperoxidation is higher in SSc than in controls, and may be an important pathogenetic factors involved in tissue changes in SSc.

Atherosclerosis in systemic sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The oxidation of LDL plays a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and oxLDL molecules are believed to be more inflammatory than native LDL(61). LDL of SSc patients may be more susceptible to oxidation when compared to patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon and healthy controls(63) and higher levels of oxLDL antibodies are found in patients with SSc (64, 65). …”

Cardiorheumatology: cardiac involvement in systemic rheumatic disease

“…Patients with SSc have diffuse involvement of the entire microcirculation and macrocirculation, and undergo oxidation which promotes inflammation of the vessel wall, injury to the endothelium, and subsequent release of cytokines. This inflammatory cascade leads to upregulation of inflammatory markers such as CRP and homocysteine, further contributing to an increase in the risk of atherosclerosis 43,46,47…”

Apoptosis Modulation as a Promising Target for Treatment of Systemic Sclerosis

“…MIF [105], an ERK activator inducing Bcl-2 expression, and AKT, or PKC ε [66], responsible for MAPK activation, are both reported to be involved in the modulation of apoptosis in SSc fibroblasts. Involvement of ROS in SSc is known for a long time [109]; they result mainly from vascular damage and inflammatory process. Besides protein and lipid oxidation, they induce DNA damage in fibroblasts [110] but seem to play little or no role in SSc-related vasculopathy.…”