Enhanced accumulation of the isoprostane, 8-epi-PGF2 alpha,in human aortic and pulmonary valves of patients with coronary heart disease

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the isoprostane 8-epi-PGF2 alpha differently accumulates in semilunar valves of patients suffering from coronary heart disease (CHD, n = 19) as compared to valves from healthy heart donors (controls, n = 6). Sections from isolated aortic and pulmonary valves were analyzed by semiquantitative immunohistochemistry. The 8-epi-PGF2 alpha-content was determined by using a specific radioimmunoassay. The accumulation of 8-epi-PGF2 alpha in both valves was higher in CHD-patients in comparison to controls (Aortic valves: 36.49 +/- 11.26% vs. 15.78 +/- 3.04%; pulmonary valves: 46.79 +/- 9.80% vs. 14.99 +/- 3.57%). The results from the radioimmunoassay revealed comparable findings in both groups (CHD vs. controls: 395.95 +/- 86.09 vs. 139.50 +/- 47.46 pg/mg protein in the aortic valves and 430.47 +/- 76.30 vs. 147.33 +/- 53.84 pg/mg protein in pulmonary valves). Pulmonary valves seem to be more susceptible to oxidative stress than aortic valves as evidenced by a higher accumulation of 8-epi-PGF2 alpha in CHD patients. Considering the data presented in this study, we suggest that 8-epi-PGF2 alpha is a valuable indicator of oxidative injury in human semilunar valves.