利拉鲁肽对ApoE-/-小鼠动脉粥样硬化的影响

目的:探讨利拉鲁肽对载脂蛋白E基因缺陷(ApoE-/-)小鼠动脉粥样硬化(AS)的影响。方法:将24只无特定病原体(SPF)级雄性ApoE-/-小鼠(6周龄)随机分成对照组与实验组,各12只,分别用高脂饲料、高脂饲料+利拉鲁肽饲养,饲养12周后,比较两组小鼠AS斑块面积/管腔面积、内膜厚度/中膜厚度及血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、一氧化氮(NO)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)及丙二醛(MDA)水平。结果:实验组AS斑块面积/管腔面积和内膜厚度/中膜厚度均明显低于对照组(P0.05)。实验组血清TC、TG及LDL-C水平均明显低于对照组(P0.05),但两组小鼠血清HDL-C水平比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。实验组小鼠血清NO水平明显高于对照组、血清TNF-α水平明显低于对照组(P0.05),但两组小鼠血清MDA水平比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:利拉鲁肽能够改善ApoE-/-小鼠血脂水平、保护细胞内皮功能、抑制炎症反应,抗AS作用显著。     

氧化低密度脂蛋白抗体对ApoE-/-小鼠动脉粥样硬化形成的影响

目的探讨在氧化低密度脂蛋白抗体免疫ApoE基因敲除(ApoE-/-)小鼠体内ACAT1的变化及其与动脉粥样硬化形成的关系。方法采用油红染色、免疫组化染色(包括染CD68,a-SMA及Masson)方法确定各组小鼠斑块大小及各组分的含量,Western blot及Real-Time PCR检测ACAT1蛋白及mRNA在小鼠肝脏的表达。结果抗体免疫组斑块面积明显小于对照组(P0.05),ACAT1水平明显低于对照组(P0.05)。结论氧化低密度脂蛋白抗体可能通过抑制ACAT1的表达来减少动脉粥样斑块的形成,可为临床提供新的治疗途径和思路。     

白鲜皮水提物对大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的研究白鲜皮水提物对大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用。方法 Wistar大鼠随机分为假手术组,模型组,阳性药组(地奥心血康)及白鲜皮低、中、高剂量组(白鲜皮水提物0.128、0.64、1.28 g/kg),每组6只。结扎冠状动脉左前降支制备大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤模型,观察给药后大鼠心电图ST段的改变,测量心肌梗死面积,观察大鼠心肌组织病理形态,检测大鼠血清CK,SOD活性、MDA含量。结果白鲜皮中、高剂量组给药后能明显减少心肌梗死面积,明显降低缺血30 min和再灌注120 min时ST段的抬高,并能降低大鼠血清中MDA含量,升高SOD活性,减少因缺血导致的心肌组织病理损害。结论白鲜皮水提物对大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤具有保护作用,其作用机制可能与保护心肌细胞功能、提高心肌抗氧化能力、清除氧自由基有关。     

不同程度内质网应激对ApoE-/- 小鼠动脉粥样硬化斑块稳定性的影响

目的:采用Apo E-/-小鼠建立不稳定动脉粥样硬化斑块模型,给予不同剂量衣霉素,观察其对动脉粥样硬化斑块稳定性的影响。方法:取40只6-8周的Apo E-/-小鼠随机分为对照组和手术组。对照组小鼠给予正常饮食;手术组小鼠行右侧颈总动脉套管术(Perivascular carotid collar placement,PCCP),同时给予高脂喂养。9周末分别取对照组和手术组小鼠颈动脉,HE染色观察小鼠颈动脉斑块形成情况。成功造模后,将小鼠随机分为正常对照组、单纯PCCP组、小剂量衣霉素组和大剂量衣霉素组;正常对照组和单纯PCCP组给予生理盐水腹腔注射,小剂量衣霉素组和大剂量衣霉素组分别给予小剂量衣霉素、大剂量衣霉素腹腔注射。2周后,处死小鼠,通过HE染色观察颈动脉斑块形态,油红O染色观察斑块内脂质聚集,抗巨噬细胞免疫组化染色观察斑块内巨噬细胞聚集,Western-blot检内质网应激标志蛋白GRP78和自噬标志蛋白Atg7、P62的表达水平。结果:HE染色结果显示:与单纯PCCP组和大剂量衣霉素组相比,小剂量衣霉素组颈动脉腔内的斑块脂质池减少,斑块结构较为完整且相对稳定;油红O染色结果显示:小剂量衣霉素组斑块内脂质含量显著降低(P0.05 vs单纯PCCP组和大剂量衣霉素组);巨噬细胞免疫组化染色显示:与单纯PCCP组和大剂量衣霉素组相比,小剂量衣霉素组斑块内巨噬细胞的含量显著降低(P0.05);Western-blot结果显示:小剂量衣霉素干预诱导的一定程度的内质网应激可以适度上调自噬(P0.05 vs单纯PCCP组和大剂量衣霉素组)。结论:PCCP手术加高脂饮食可以短期成功建立小鼠不稳定动脉粥样硬化斑块模型,其动脉粥样硬化斑块不稳定性较高,而小剂量衣霉素干预可以使得颈动脉管腔内斑块相对较小,内部脂质池明显较小,纤维帽变厚且结构更完整,斑块结构较稳定;斑块内脂质含量降低;巨噬细胞含量明显降低,且小剂量衣霉素组自噬水平适度上调。因此,小剂量衣霉素干预引起的适度的内质网应激一定程度对动脉粥样硬化斑块起到保护作用。     

组织蛋白酶S与ApoE-/-小鼠动脉粥样硬化的实验研究

目的:观察组织蛋白酶S(Cathepsin S)在不同周龄我脂蛋白E基因缺陷(ApoE-/-)小鼠主动脉的表达,初步探讨Cathepsin S对ApoE-/-小鼠动脉粥样硬化(As)病变的影响.方法:将16只8周龄ApoE-/-小鼠随机分为两组:16周龄组(n=8),24周龄组(n=8),均饲以高脂饮食,分别在16周龄和24周龄处死动物.采用普通光镜、病理图象分析法测定主动脉As斑块面积及管腔面积;免疫组织化学染色方法观察组织蛋白酶S(Cathepsin S)在不同周龄ApoE-/-小鼠主动脉的表达.结果:16周龄组ApoE-/-小鼠主动脉根部出现As病变;与16周龄组ApoE-/-小鼠相比,24周龄组ApoE-/-小鼠主动脉根部As病变显著增强(P＜0.01),免疫组化显示Cathepsin S表达明显增加(P＜0.01).结论:Cathepsin S在ApoE-/-小鼠主动脉的表达随As病变程度增强而显著增加.     

ApoE~(-/-)小鼠动脉粥样硬化模型的建立

ApoE-基因敲除小鼠(ApoE-/-)经含有21%脂肪和0.15%胆固醇的高脂饲料喂食12周后进行各项血脂胆固醇水平检测,以及整体主动脉油红O染色与主动脉根部病理切片油红O染色等动脉粥样硬化病理分析。结果显示经过高脂诱导的ApoE-/-小鼠的血浆总胆固醇和甘油三酯水平均比未经饮食诱导的ApoE-/-小鼠、经同样饮食处理的野生型小鼠以及未经处理的野生型小鼠均显著升高(P0.05);低密度脂蛋白-胆固醇水平与野生型(正常饮食组和高脂组)相比升高了近3倍多;高脂诱导ApoE-/-小鼠的主动脉斑块面积占整体主动脉面积的65%,显著高于ApoE-/-小鼠的正常饮食组(21%)(P0.05),同时主动脉根部的血管壁明显增厚,管腔变窄。实验结果表明通过高脂饲料饮食诱导,成功建立了动脉粥样硬化模型小鼠,可为下游的药物筛选、基因治疗以及动脉粥样硬化机理的体内研究提供理想的实验材料。     

应用活体荧光技术观察LDLR~(-/-)小鼠血管损伤后初期病变形成的动态变化

目的应用活体荧光技术,研究血管损伤后初期病变形成的动态变化。方法 112只雄性LDLR-/-小鼠随机分成14组,每组8只。将绿色荧光蛋白表达而低密度脂蛋白受体敲除(GFP+/LDLR-/-)小鼠的骨髓移植到LDLR-/-小鼠中,行血管损伤手术。从术后第1天至14天,麻醉小鼠,在荧光显微镜下直接观察股动脉血管病变变化的动态状况。结果术后第1天即见血管内大量荧光细胞随血液高速循环,术后第3天出现血液中的荧光细胞呈点状粘附于血管内壁,术后第6天,在血管内壁荧光细胞粘附的部位,外膜组织开始明显增生,增生的外膜组织中可见荧光细胞,此时血管内壁的病变呈不规则的片状分布。术后第9天,血管外纤维组织显著增生,并见大量的荧光细胞,同时可见外膜组织中有血液流动的新生营养血管。至病变第14天,受损血管的病变程度在以前的基础上继续增加,病变部位血管内膜上粘附聚集大量的荧光细胞,形成内衬而附着于血管内膜。结论血管损伤后的初期病变存在着由血管内到外的发展趋势。病变的形成与循环血中骨髓来源的干细胞在内膜部位粘附和聚集具有紧密的联系,血管内膜的病变对血管外纤维组织的增生具有明显的影响。     

耐力训练对ApoE-/-致AS小鼠IL-18和IL-10表达的影响

目的：深入观察耐力训练对载脂蛋白E基因敲除（ApoE^-/-）致动脉粥样硬化（AS）小鼠白介素18（IL-18）和白介素10（IL-10）的影响,探讨运动防治AS的可能机制。方法：选取8周龄雄性ApoE^-/-小鼠20只：随机分为2组（n=10）：AS模型组（AC组）和运动干预组（AE组）,AE组进行跑台耐力训练;选取8周龄C57BL/6J雄性小鼠10只作为正常对照组（CC组）。实验持续12周,取主动脉制作冰冻切片,分别用于观察主动脉AS斑块和病理变化以及主动脉IL-18、IL-10蛋白表达;采用ELISA法检测血清IL-18、IL-10水平。结果：①12周高脂膳食致ApoE^-/-小鼠发生典型的AS病变,耐力训练使AS斑块面积显著减少（P<0.01）,病变程度显著减轻。②与CC组比较,AC组、AE组小鼠血清IL-18和IL-10水平均显著升高（P<0.01）,且AC组IL-18/IL-10比值显著升高（P<0.01）。AE组血清IL-18水平及IL-18/IL-10比值均显著低于AC组（P<0.01）。③与CC组比较,AC组、AE组小鼠主动脉IL-10和IL-18蛋白表达均显著升高（P<0.01）,AE组IL-10表达显著高于AC组（P<0.05）,IL-18表达显著低于AC组（P<0.05）。结论：耐力训练通过降低血液和主动脉IL-18及提高IL-10水平,增强了主动脉血管抗炎能力,从而发挥抗AS的作用。     

apoE/LDLR双基因缺失幼龄小鼠主动脉中动脉粥样硬化相关基因的表达

利用RT-PCR以及实时定量RT-PCR检测11个动脉粥样硬化(atherosclerosis,AS)相关基因在1、2和3月龄的载脂蛋白E(apolipoproteinE,aopE)/低密度脂蛋白受体(low-density lipoprotein receptor,LDLR)双基因缺失(apoE-/-/LDLR-/-)小鼠主动脉中的表达变化,同时应用血生化指标和病理形态学观察AS早期病变特点,探讨apoE和LDLR基因联合缺失引发的血脂代谢紊乱和血管炎症损伤的关系以及AS的炎症反应机制.结果显示,apoE-/-/LDLR-/-小鼠IL-18、TLR2、MCP-1、ICAM-1、VCAM-1、GM-CSF、CD36和ET-1表达在1月龄时较同龄野生型(wild type,WT)小鼠显著上调(P<0.05,P<0.01),PDGF-α和TNF-α表达在2月龄时较同龄WT小鼠显著上调,除ET-1表达在2月龄时以及了LR2、VCAM-1和ICAM-1表达在3月龄时降至WT小鼠水平以外,其余各基因表达随年龄增长继续升高(P<0.05,P<0.01),其中MCP-1表达在2月龄时达到峰值.NF-kB在各年龄段apoE-/-/LDLR-/-小鼠中的表达与同龄WT小鼠相比均无显著差异.各年龄段apoE-/-/LDLR-/-/小鼠血清了C、TG、LDL、HDL、TNF-α、IL-1β和ox-LDL含量均显著高于同龄WT小鼠(P<0.05,P<0.01),并随年龄增长逐渐升高.apoE-/-/LDLR-/-小鼠1月龄时主动脉内膜出现少量的散在的脂质沉积,随着年龄增长病变区域增多,脂质沉积增厚.上述结果提示:apoE和LDLR双基因缺失形成的高脂血症可能通过刺激主动脉中炎症基因时序表达,起始并扩大病变部位的炎症反应,共同促进AS的发生发展.     

西红花水提物对实验性糖尿病小鼠血糖水平的影响

目的：观察西红花水提物对链脲佐菌素（STZ）诱导的糖尿病小鼠血糖、血脂及胰腺组织的影响。方法：采用STZ （60 mg/kg）连续2 d腹腔注射建立糖尿病小鼠模型。将造模成功后的小鼠随机分为3组（n=10）：糖尿病模型（DM）组、西红花水提物（SE）组、阳性对照二甲双胍（MH）组。另取10只正常小鼠设为正常对照（NC）组。给药组每天灌胃1次,连续6周,模型组和正常对照组灌胃生理盐水。给药期间每周测定小鼠进食量、饮水量及体重,给药6周后测定空腹血糖（FBG）、口服糖耐量（OGTT）、糖化血清蛋白（GSP）、血清胰岛素（INS）和血脂等指标的变化情况;HE染色观察胰腺组织病理变化。结果：与NC组相比,DM组进食量、饮水量、线下曲线面积、FBG、GSP以及血脂中的总胆固醇（TC）均显著升高,空腹体重、血清胰岛素（INS）及高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-c）均显著降低;与DM组相比,SE组小鼠饮水量、FBG、线下曲线面积、TC显著降低,HDL-c以及INS显著升高。病理学显示DM组胰岛结构破坏、胰岛细胞数量明显减少、胰岛血管增生、形态不规则等变化,SE能明显修复受损胰腺组织。结论：SE对链脲佐菌素诱导的糖尿病小鼠有一定降血糖、降血脂作用,可以有效改善胰腺病变的情况,提示西红花可能用于糖尿病的防治。     

Mulberry leaf powder prevents atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Mulberry is commonly used to feed silkworms. Here we examined whether a dietary intake of mulberry leaf (ML) could affect atherogenesis in vivo and in vitro. Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were fed either normal chow (control group) or a diet containing 1% ML powder (ML group) from 6 weeks of age. The mice were sacrificed after 12 weeks. The susceptibility of plasma lipoprotein to oxidation was assessed using diene formation. A significant increase in the lag time of lipoprotein oxidation was detected in the ML group compared with the control group. Furthermore, the ML group showed a 40% reduction in atherosclerotic lesion size in the aortae compared with the control. We also examined the direct anti-oxidative activity of ML in vitro. Aqueous extract of ML had a strong scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and inhibited lipoprotein oxidation. These results confirm that ML contains anti-oxidative substances that might help prevent atherosclerosis.     

Oral a-tocopherol Supplementation Inhibits Lipid Oxidation in Established Human Atherosclerotic Lesions

Background: Much experimental evidence suggests that lipid oxidation is important in atherogenesis and in epidemiological studies dietary antioxidants appear protective against cardiovascular events. However, most large clinical trials failed to demonstrate benefit of oral antioxidant vitamin supplementation in high-risk subjects. This paradox questions whether ingestion of antioxidant vitamins significantly affects lipid oxidation within established atherosclerotic lesions. Methods and results: This placebo-controlled, double blind study of 104 carotid endarterectomy patients determined the effects of short-term α-tocopherol supplementation (500 IU/day) on lipid oxidation in plasma and advanced atherosclerotic lesions. In the 53 patients who received α-tocopherol there was a significant increase in plasma α-tocopherol concentrations (from 32.66±13.11 at baseline to 38.31±13.87 (mean±SD) μmol/l, p&lt;0.01), a 40% increase (compared with placebo patients) in circulating LDL-associated α-tocopherol (p&lt;0.0001), and their LDL was less susceptible to ex vivo oxidation than that of the placebo group (lag phase 115.3±28.2 and 104.4±15.7 min respectively, p&lt;0.02). Although the mean cholesterol-standardised α-tocopherol concentration within lesions did not increase, α-tocopherol concentrations in lesions correlated significantly with those in plasma, suggesting that plasma α-tocopherol levels can influence lesion levels. There was a significant inverse correlation in lesions between cholesterol-standardised levels of α-tocopherol and 7β-hydroxycholesterol, a free radical oxidation product of cholesterol. Conclusions: These results suggest that within plasma and lesions α-tocopherol can act as an antioxidant. They may also explain why studies using &lt;500 IU α-tocopherol/day failed to demonstrate benefit of antioxidant therapy. Better understanding of the pharmacodynamics of oral antioxidants is required to guide future clinical trials.     

Oxidized LDL autoantibodies are related to apolipoprotein E phenotype,independently of postprandial change in plasma triglycerides and LDL size,among patients with angiographically verified coronary artery disease and healthy controls

OBJECTIVE: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) autoantibodies (oxLDLab), apolipoprotein E (apoE) phenotype, postprandial triglyceride changes and LDL size are suggested to be risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). Our aim was to study the interaction between these new risk factors among patients with CAD and healthy controls. METHODS: oxLDLab from 31 men with angiographically verified CAD and 31 healthy men were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting were used for apoE phenotyping. Triglyceride level was measured after 12 h of fasting and 3, 5 and 7 h after a high-fat meal. Nondenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis was used to separate LDL particles according to size. RESULTS: oxLD- Lab levels increased according to apoE phenotype in the following order: E2 < E3 < E4 (p = 0.004, ANOVA). The postprandial response of triglycerides, the size of LDL particles and the concentration of LDL and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol did not differ between apoE phenotypes, and the use of these variables as covariates did not change the statistically significant difference in oxLDLab levels between apoE phenotypes (p = 0.01, ANCOVA). oxLDLab levels did not differ between the patient and control groups. CONCLUSION: We found an association between apoE allele epsilon2 and decreased levels of oxLDLab, which was independent of the postprandial response of triglycerides, the size of LDL particles and plasma LDL and HDL cholesterol levels. The mechanism by which apoE affects oxidation of LDL remains unknown.     

Circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein and common carotid artery intima-media thickness in a random sample of middle-aged men

Circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) has been suggested to play an important role in atherosclerosis development. According to previous observations, oxLDL correlates with clinically manifest coronary and carotid artery disease. We investigated the association between the oxLDL concentration measured directly in plasma and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) in a population-based, case-control study in middle-aged men from Southern Finland. oxLDL was determined in 214 men by a commercially available sandwich ELISA test (Mercodia). Carotid artery IMT was measured at 12 standardized segments by B-mode ultrasonography (at the near and far wall of the left and right common carotid arteries, bifurcations and internal carotid arteries), and the overall mean maximum IMT (MMaxIMT) was calculated. The MMaxIMT of the carotid arteries was significantly associated with circulating oxLDL (r_s=0.16, p=0.018). In a stepwise multiple regression model with MMaxIMT as dependent variable and systolic blood pressure, smoking, oxLDL, HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B as covariates, systolic blood pressure (=0.22, p<0.001), oxLDL (=0.15, p=0.022) and smoking (=0.17, p=0.014) showed an independent association with IMT (R²=0.10, p<0.001). Our results show that oxLDL measured directly from plasma is independently associated with subclinical carotid artery atherosclerosis in middle-aged men.     

C-reactive protein binds to the 3beta-OH group of cholesterol in LDL particles

C-reactive protein (CRP) has been suggested to contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. We previously found binding of CRP to cholesterol in modified low density lipoprotein (LDL) particles. Here, we characterize the interaction between CRP and cholesterol in more detail. When lipids of native LDL were separated by thin-layer chromatography, CRP bound only to cholesterol. When various cholesterol analogues were compared for their ability to bind CRP, we found that any modification of the 3beta-OH group blocked binding of CRP to cholesterol. Similarly, enrichment of LDL with cholesterol but not with its analogues triggered the binding of CRP to LDL. Finally, with the aid of anti-CRP monoclonal antibodies and by molecular modeling, we obtained evidence for involvement of the phosphorylcholine-binding site of CRP in cholesterol binding. Thus, CRP can bind to cholesterol, and the interaction is mediated by the phosphorylcholine-binding site of CRP and the 3beta-hydroxyl group of cholesterol.     

Irgm 1参与动脉粥样硬化斑块的形成

目的:探讨免疫相关GTP酶1(Irgm 1)对小鼠血管动脉粥样硬化(AS)斑块形成的影响。方法:高脂饲料喂养野生型(WT)、ApoE~(-/-)Irgm 1~(+/+)和ApoE~(-/-)Irgm1~(+/-)小鼠3个月,建立AS模型;取小鼠主动脉弓,免疫荧光染色方法观察WT和ApoE~(-/-)Irgm 1~(+/+)小鼠血管AS斑块中Irgm 1的表达情况及部位;Western blot方法检测WT和ApoE~(-/-)Irgm 1~(+/+)小鼠血管AS斑块中Irgm 1蛋白表达情况;Q-PCR方法检测WT和ApoE~(-/-)Irgm 1~(+/+)小鼠血管AS斑块中Irgm 1 m RNA表达情况;油红O染色观察ApoE~(-/-)Irgm1~(+/+)和ApoE~(-/-)Irgm1~(+/-)小鼠血管AS斑块形成情况;结果:与WT组相比,ApoE~(-/-)Irgm 1~(+/+)组小鼠主动脉弓AS斑块中Irgm 1+细胞明显增多,Irgm 1+细胞主要位于血管AS斑块的表面;与WT组相比,ApoE~(-/-)Irgm 1~(+/+)组小鼠血管AS斑块中Irgm 1蛋白表达显著增多(P0.001),Irgm 1 m RNA表达显著增多(P0.01);与ApoE~(-/-)Irgm1~(+/-)组相比,ApoE~(-/-)Irgm1~(+/+)组小鼠主动脉弓AS斑块面积显著增大(P0.01);结论:Irgm 1能够促进血管AS斑块的形成。     

Early Atherosclerotic Plaques in the Aorta Following Cytomegalovirus Infection of Mice

We show here that BALB/c mice inoculated with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) express viral antigens in the endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the aortic wall, and that accumulation of inflammatory cells in the aortic lumen, similar to that seen in early atherosclerotic lesions in humans, colocalizes with the site of virus antigen expression. Immunosuppression of the mice at the time of virus infection increased the expression of viral antigens and the size of early atherosclerotic lesions in the intima. The percentage of the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), the major lipid contributor to atherosclerotic plaques, was significantly increased in the serum of MCMV-infected mice, whether or not the mice were fed a high cholesterol diet. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) significantly increased the esterified cholesterol component of the total cholesterol in a human arterial smooth muscle cell line infected in vitro with HCMV. These results suggest that CMV infection is involved in two of the major mechanisms that lead to development of atherosclerosis, i.e., immune injury and high LDL-C.     

Esterified lipid hydroperoxide-derived modification of protein: formation of a carboxyalkylamide-type lysine adduct in human atherosclerotic lesions

We have recently identified Nepsilon-azelayllysine (AZL) as a carboxyalkylamide-type novel lysine adduct in the reaction of linoleic acid hydroperoxides with the lysine derivative. To examine the formation of AZL in vivo, a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb19D5) specific to AZL moiety was prepared. The mAb19D5 scarcely recognized oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), whereas the treatment of oxLDL with alkali or phospholipase A2 significantly increased the immunoreactivity. Similarly, the immunopositive materials were detected in alkali- or phospholipase A2-treated sections from human atherosclerotic aorta but not in untreated sections. These results suggest that esterified lipid hydroperoxide-derived modification of protein may serve as one mechanism for the oxidative modification of LDL and subsequent formation of atherosclerotic lesions in vivo.     

Baseline diene conjugation in LDL lipids: an indicator of circulating oxidized LDL

The wide acceptance of the diene conjugation-method in monitoring low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation ex vivo has led to development of an assay, which measures the amount of baseline diene conjugation (BDC) in circulating LDL, and is an indicator of oxidized LDL in vivo. The LDL-BDC assay is based on precipitation of serum LDL with buffered heparin, and spectrophotometric determination of baseline level of conjugated dienes in lipids extracted from LDL. Compared to existing methods for oxidized LDL, LDL-BDC is fast and simple to perform. Chemical studies by HPLC and NMR have verified that LDL-BDC is a specific indicator of circulating mildly oxidized LDL. Validity of the assay is further indicated by strong correlation with the titer of autoantibodies against oxidized LDL. Clinical studies have shown that LDL-BDC is closely related to coronary, carotid, and brachial atherosclerosis. Moreover, several independent studies have demonstrated surprisingly strong associations between LDL-BDC and known atherosclerosis risk factors (obesity, physical inactivity, hypertension, diabetes, and arterial functions). Indeed, these studies seem to indicate that as an indicator of the risk of atherosclerosis LDL-BDC clearly exceeds sensitivity and specificity of the common lipid markers of atherosclerosis. It is concluded that LDL-BDC is a promising candidate in search for methods for the evaluation of in vivo LDL oxidation and the risk of atherosclerosis.