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Oxidative stress parameters in plasma of Huntington's disease patients, asymptomatic Huntington’s disease gene carriers and healthy subjects

A cross-sectional study

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Abstract

Background

Animal data and postmortem studies suggest a role of oxidative stress in the Huntington's disease (HD), but in vivo human studies have been scarce.

Aim

To assess the presence of oxidative stress in HD patients and its occurrence relative to clinical symptoms.

Methods

Oxidative stress markers were determined in plasma of HD patients (n = 19), asymptomatic HD gene carriers (with > 38 CAG repeats) (n = 11) and their respective sex and agematched healthy controls (n = 47 and n = 22) in a cross-sectional study.

Results

With adjustment for age and sex, HD patients had higher plasma lipid peroxidation (LP) levels (ratio 1.20, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.32, p < 0.001) and lower reduced glutathione (GSH) levels (ratio 0.72, CI 0.55 to 0.94, p = 0.011) than their age and sex-matched controls. Although considerably younger, HD gene carriers did not differ from HD patients regarding LP and GSH levels, and had higher plasma LP (ratio 1.16, CI 1.02 to 1.32, p = 0.016) and lower GSH than their matched controls (ratio 0.73, CI 0.5 to 1.05). They had higher LP (ratio 1.18, CI 1.02 to 1.34, p = 0.019) and lower GSH (ratio 0.75, CI 0.51 to 1.11) than the healthy subjects matched to HD patients.

Conclusions

Oxidative stress is more pronounced in HD patients and asymptomatic HD gene carriers than in healthy subjects. Differences in plasma LP and GSH are in line with the brain findings in animal models of HD. Data suggest that oxidative stress occurs before the onset of the HD symptoms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Neurology, University Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb University School of Medicine, Kišpatićeva 12, HR – 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    N. Klepac, M. Relja & T. Babić

  2. Dept. of Biology Zagreb, University School of Medicine, Šalata 3, Zagreb, Croatia

    R. Klepac

  3. Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, Zagreb, Croatia

    S. Hećimović

  4. Dept. of Pharmacology, Zagreb University School of Medicine, Šalata 11, Zagreb, Croatia

    V. Trkulja

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  1. N. Klepac
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  2. M. Relja
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  3. R. Klepac
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  4. S. Hećimović
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  5. T. Babić
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  6. V. Trkulja
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Correspondence to N. Klepac.

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Klepac, N., Relja, M., Klepac, R. et al. Oxidative stress parameters in plasma of Huntington's disease patients, asymptomatic Huntington’s disease gene carriers and healthy subjects. J Neurol 254, 1676–1683 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-007-0611-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-007-0611-y

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