The role of labile iron pool in cardiovascular diseases.

Although multiple factors are associated with cardiovascular pathology, there is now an impressive body of evidence that free radicals and nonradical oxidants might cause a number of cardiovascular dysfunctions. Both direct damage to cellular components and/or oxidation of extracellular biomolecules, e.g. LDL, might be involved in the aetiology of cardiovascular diseases. The key molecules in this process seem to be iron and copper ions that catalyse formation of the highly reactive hydroxyl radical. Chelation of iron ions has a beneficial effect on the processes associated with the development of atherosclerosis and formation of post-ischemic lesions. These findings are indirectly supported by the increasing body of evidence that stored body iron plays a crucial role in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and ischemia/reperfusion injury.