Are b-vitamin levels and genetics of hyperhomocysteinemia associated with arterial stiffness?
Homocysteine is unlikely to be causally related to arterial stiffness, because there was no association with genetic variants causing hyperhomocysteinemia, whereas non-genetically determined hyperhomocysteinemia was associated with arterial stiffness. Moreover, the association between homocysteine and arterial stiffness was not mediated by B-vitamins. Possibly, high plasma homocysteine levels reflect an unidentified factor, that causes increased arterial stiffness.
These results indicate that 17β-E(2) protects ARPE-19 cells from oxidative stress through an ERβ-dependent mechanism. 17β-E(2)-mediated cytoprotection occurred through the preservation of mitochondrial function, reduction of ROS production, and induction of cellular antioxidant genes.