Role of transition metal ions and redox activity in the development of atherosclerotic plaques

金属离子如铁和铜被认为存在于患病的人动脉中的病变中，并且已经表明这些金属离子通过它们催化称为自由基的高活性分子片段的形成的能力而促进动脉粥样硬化（动脉硬化）的发展。虽然在试管实验中，金属离子可以催化这种反应，但在病变动脉中金属离子的存在及其产生自由基的能力都是有争议的。本研究将采用一种新的微创技术来评估病变发展不同阶段明确的人类和动物病变中存在的金属离子的性质和数量。还将评估这些金属离子催化动脉壁中存在的组分形成自由基的能力。将评估这些金属离子从动脉壁释放到添加的有机分子中，因为这可能最大限度地降低其造成损伤的可能性，并提供可能的治疗策略。因此，这些研究将提供有关活性金属离子在人类动脉疾病发展中的意义和作用以及可能的预防或最小化这些过程的有价值的信息。

Metal ions such as iron and copper have been reproted to be present in the lesions present in diseased human arteries and it has been suggested that these metal ions contribute to the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) via their ability to catalyse the formation of highly reactive molecualr fragments called free radicals. Though metal ions are known to catalyse such reactions in test-tube experiments, both the presence of metal ions in diseased arteries and their ability to generate free radicals is controversial. This study will employ a novel, minimally-invasive, technique to assess the nature and quantity of metal ions present in well-defined human and animal lesions at different stages of lesion development. The ability of these metal ions to catalyse free radical formation from components present in the artery wall will also be assessed. The release of these metal ions from the artery wall to added organic molecules will be assessed as this might minimise their potential to cause damage, and provide a possible therapeutic strategy. These studies will therefore provide valuable information as to the significance and role of reactive metal ions in the development of human artery disease and the possible prevention, or minimisation, of such processes.