R. Olinescu et al., THE HEMOLYTIC-ACTIVITY OF HOMOCYSTEINE IS INCREASED BY THE ACTIVATED POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES, Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 226(3), 1996, pp. 912-916
Homocysteine is an accepted risk factor when its plasma level exceeds
the physiological upper limit of 12 mu mol/L. We found in vitro that h
omocysteine is able to lyse the erythrocytes (RBCs) at higher concentr
ations than 15 mu mol/L only when activated polymorphonuclear leukocyt
es (PMNL) are present. The hemolytic effect of homocysteine was higher
in RBCs obtained from cardiac catheterized patients with 100% stenosi
s of the coronary arteries. Homocysteine was also able to increase the
activation in vitro of PMNLs triggered by opsonized zymosan. The hemo
lytic action of homocysteine was found to be dependent on the ratio of
PMNLs to RBCs. This relationship may help to explain the great indivi
dual variations in the hemolytic activity noticed in blood obtained fr
om cardiac catheterized patients, and also may explain the mild anemia
in some patients suffering from cardiovascular disease. (C) 1996 Acad
emic Press. Inc.