The role of serum levels of thioredoxin and thioredoxin-interacting protein in stroke

Aims: Serum level of thioredoxin (TRX), a redox-regulating protein with antioxidant activity, increases under oxidative stress. The present study measured serum levels of TRX and its inhibitor TRX-interacting protein (TXNIP) in patients who experienced first-ever acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Subjects and Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 45 patients who experienced AIS and 33 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Serum TRX and TXNIP levels in stroke patients and healthy controls were analyzed by performing solid-phase sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Our results showed that mean serum TXNIP levels were significantly higher in stroke patients than in healthy controls (P = 0.044). However, serum TRX levels were not significantly different between stroke patients and healthy controls (P = 0.405). Moreover, we observed a significant positive correlation between TRX and TXNIP levels (R2 = 0.476, P < 0.003). Conclusions: These results suggest that TRX and TXNIP are rapid, inexpensive, and convenient biomarkers of stroke. However, additional studies should be performed to validate these preliminary observations and the role of TRX and TXNIP in AIS.