The Relationship between the Concentration of Cathepsin A, D, and E and the Concentration of Copper and Zinc, and the Size of the Aneurysmal Enlargement in the Wall of the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Despite advances in diagnostics and treatment, aortic aneurysms are an important clinical problem, mainly due to the accompanying complications that may lead to direct loss of life, also the number of diagnosed and operated aneurysms is constantly increasing. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the concentration of lysosomal peptidases cathepsin A, D, and E in the wall of the abdominal aortic aneurysm and the concentration of copper and zinc, and the size of the aneurysm widening in the wall of the abdominal aortic aneurysm.The study included 27 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm from the Department of Vascular Surgery and Transplantation of the University Clinical Hospital in Bialystok. The research material was the wall of the abdominal aortic aneurysm collected intraoperatively. The control material consisted of fragments of the abdominal aorta obtained from organ donors for transplantation. The concentration of cathepsin A, D, and E was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Concentrations of copper and zinc were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after prior mineralization of the samples. All patients were interviewed and asked about basic demographic data, comorbidities, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease to which they were exposed in the past. The statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 10 statistical package. Mann-Whitney U-tests were used and also Spearman's r correlation assuming a significance level of P < 0.05.The concentration of cathepsin A, D, and E was higher in the aortic wall altered by the aneurysm than in the wall of the control aorta (P < 0.05). The analysis of the data showed that there was a positive correlation between the concentration of cathepsin A and D and the width of the aneurysmal widening (r = 0.699 and 0.750, respectively). There was no correlation between cathepsin E concentration and aneurysm width.The higher contents of cathepsin A, D, and E in the wall of the aortic aneurysm than in the normal aortic wall, as well as a positive correlation between the concentration of cathepsin A and D and the width of the aneurysmal widening, allow to assume the participation of these enzymes in the pathogenesis of the aneurysm.