Pro-Oxidative Stress, TLR4/NF-κB/MyD88 and GAS6 Pathways, and Atherosclerotic Susceptibility: Development of Tibial Artery Occlusions in Elderly Patients With Chronic Total Coronary Occlusions

Abstract

Background: Oxidative stress is an important factor in the progression of arterial atherosclerosis. The present study investigated the effects of oxidative stress on atherosclerotic susceptibility and development of arteriosclerosis occlusions of tibial artery through pro-inflammatory mediator genes in elderly patients with chronic total coronary occlusions. Methods: We measured the oxidative stress biomarkers [malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL), oxidized low density lipoprotein (OX-LDL) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)] and the expressions of pro-inflammatory mediator genes [toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), myeloid differentiating factor 88 (MyD88) and growth arrest-specific gene 6 (GAS6)] for their impacts on the severity of arteriosclerosis occlusions of tibial artery in elderly patients with chronic total coronary occlusions. Findings: Levels of MDA-LDL, OX-LDL, HO-1, TLR4, NF-κB, MyD88 and GAS6 were significantly increased (P< 0.001) in the patients. This indicated the key roles for oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory mediator genes in arteriosclerosis occlusions of tibial artery in elderly patients with chronic total coronary occlusions. Interpretation: Oxidative stress may promote the over-expressions of pro-inflammatory genes and enhanced susceptibility to arteriosclerosis occlusions of tibial artery in elderly patients with chronic total coronary occlusions. Funding Information: Not applicable. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The research was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Xuzhou Medical University and the Affiliated Huaian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University according to the relevant laws and regulations of China, and the written informed consent was obtained from all the participants according to the Declaration of Helsinki.