May modifications of human plasma proteins stimulated by homocysteine and its thiolactone induce changes of hemostatic function of plasma in vitro?

Homocysteine (Hcys) may be implicated in different diseases, especially in cardiovascular illnesses. The most reactive form of Hcys is its cyclic thioester-homocysteine thiolactone (HTL), which is formed in plasma and represents up to 0.29% of plasma total Hcys. Recently, it has been observed that Hcys and HTL may modify plasma proteins, including albumin, hemoglobin or fibrinogen, but the role of this process is not yet well known. The aim of our study in vitro was to investigate the modifications of human plasma total proteins after incubation with the reduced form of Hcys in concentrations 10-100 micromol/l, and HTL in concentrations 1-0.1 micromol/l, which correspond to levels found in human plasma during hyperhomocysteinemia in vivo. The aim of our study was also to explain the effects of Hcys and HTL on coagulation activity of human plasma. We showed that in model system in vitro Hcys and HTL change the level of thiol, amino and carbonyl groups in plasma total proteins. Moreover, our studies reported that not only Hcys (10-100 micromol/l), but also HTL (at lower concentrations than Hcys) modulates the coagulation properties of human plasma.