Thiol Disulfide Homeostasis in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To determine the serum thiol disulfide homeostasis in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome.

Method: Thirty-five patients with PEX syndrome and forty healthy subjects were included in this observational case-control study. Serum native thiol, total thiol, disulfide, and native thiol/disulfide ratio were determined using a novel and automated assay.

Results: The mean serum total thiol and native thiol levels were significantly lower in patients with PEX syndrome compared to healthy controls (p = 0.001). The mean serum disulfide level was significantly higher in patients with PEX syndrome compared to healthy controls (p = 0.023). The serum native thiol/disulfide ratio was lower in patients with PEX syndrome compared to healthy subjects (16 ± 10.1 vs 22.3 ± 11.5, respectively, p = 0.014).

Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence that the dynamic native thiol/disulfide ratio is lower in PEX syndrome, which shows a reduction in the natural cell reductive capacity reservoir.

KEYWORDS:

• Disulfide
• oxidative stress
• pseudoexfoliation syndrome
• thiol

Declaration of interest

All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership; employment; consultancies; stock ownership; or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or nonfinancial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge, or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Funding

No funding was received for this research.