Low density lipoprotein cytotoxicity induced by free radical peroxidation of lipid

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) has been reported to be injurious or toxic to cells in vitro. This injurious effect is, in some instances, due to oxidation of the lipid moiety of the lipoprotein. The objectives of this study were to determine if the oxidation rendering the lipoprotein toxic to human skin fibroblasts occurred by free radical mechanisms, and if so, which of the common free radical oxygen species were involved. The selective free radical blockers or scavengers employed included superoxide dismutase for superoxide, catalase for hydrogen peroxide, dimethylfuran for singlet molecular oxygen, and mannitol for hydroxyl radical. The presence during lipoprotein preparation of general free radical scavengers (vitamin E, butylated hydroxytoluene) or the divalent cation chelator ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid prevented the formation of cytotoxic low density lipoprotein, while the simultaneous presence of superoxide dismutase and catalase partially inhibited its formation. The results indicate that superoxide and/or hydrogen peroxide are involved in the formation of the toxic LDL lipid. The toxic action of oxidized LDL could not be prevented by inclusion of antioxidants in the culture medium, indicating that an oxidized lipid was responsible for cell injury rather than free radicals generated in culture by the action of oxidized LDL. Three separate assays for cell injury (enumeration of attached cells, cell loss of lactate dehydrogenase into the culture medium, and trypan blue uptake) indicated a sequence of events in which the fibroblasts are injured, die, and then detach.     

Fructose as an inducer of free radical peroxidation of natural lipid-protein supramolecular complexes

D-fructose strongly stimulates peroxidation of natural lipid-protein supramolecular complexes in vitro regardless of the oxidation initiation method. Fructose (ketose) intensifies free radical peroxidation to a much greater extent than glucose (aldose), which is important for the etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus.     

Lipid peroxidation in small and large phospholipid unilamellar vesicles induced by water-soluble free radical sources

The susceptibility of small and large egg yolk phosphatidylcholine unilamellar vesicles to Fe(2+)/histidine-Fe(3+)- and Fenton reagent (Fe(2+)-H(2)O(2))-induced lipid peroxidation was evaluated by measuring the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). It has been found that surface curvature or phospholipid packing exerts significant effect on the oxidative susceptibility of the unsaturated lipid bilayers and the highly curved and loosely packed small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) exhibit much less resistance to the oxidative stress induced by the water-soluble free radical sources. The presence of lipid hydroperoxides in sonicated vesicles was excluded as the cause for higher level of lipid peroxidation in the phospholipid SUVs. Instead, the experimental results can be explained by the difference in ability of the water-soluble oxidants to penetrate the two types of lipid membranes. This hypothesis is supported by data obtained from fluorescence lifetime and quenching studies.     

Sulfate anion free radical formation by the peroxidation of (Bi)sulfite and its reaction with hydroxyl radical scavengers

The one-electron oxidation of (bi)sulfite is catalyzed by peroxidases to yield the sulfur trioxide radical anion (SO3-), a predominantly sulfur-centered radical as shown by studies with 33S-labeled (bi)sulfite. This radical reacts with molecular oxygen to form a peroxyl radical. The subsequent reaction of this peroxyl radical with (bi)sulfite has been proposed to form the sulfate anion radical, which is nearly as strong an oxidant as the hydroxyl radical. We used the spin trapping electron spin resonance technique to provide for the first time direct evidence for sulfate anion radical formation during (bi)sulfite peroxidation. The sulfate anion radical is known to react with many compounds more commonly thought of as hydroxyl radical scavengers such as formate and ethanol. Free radicals derived from these scavengers are trapped in systems where (bi)sulfite peroxidation has been inhibited by these scavengers.     

Modification of radiation induced lipid peroxidation by calmodulin antagonists

It has been shown that calmodulin antagonists provide radio-protection in euoxic and sensitization in hypoxic conditions. This differential protection in euoxic conditions might have arisen from the interaction of calmodulin antagonists with oxygen free radicals. This possibility has been tested in the present communication. Radiation induced lipid peroxidation process in liposomes has been used for this purpose. Liposomes prepared from L-alpha-lecithin were irradiated with or without calmodulin antagonists. Calmodulin antagonists inhibited lipid peroxidation significantly. The inhibition was found to increase with increase in concentration of the drugs. These observations suggest that calmodulin antagonists have a capacity to scavenge oxygen free radicals involved in initiation and/or propagation of lipid peroxidation process. This may be the reason for their differential radioprotection in euoxic conditions in biological systems.     

The importance of lipid solubility in antioxidants and free radical generating systems for determining lipoprotein peroxidation

The oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) plays an important role in atherosclerosis. Protecting LDL from oxidation has been shown to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. In this study, we compared the protective effects of two lipophilic antioxidants (vitamin E and lazaroid) with two hydrophilic antioxidants (trolox and vitamin C) in the presence of several different free radical generating systems. Vitamin E (IC₅₀ = 5.9 μM) and lazaroid (IC₅₀ = 5.0 μM) were more effective in inhibiting lipid peroxidation caused by a Fe-ADP free radical generating system than vitamin C (IC₅₀ = 5.2 × 10³ μM) and trolox (IC₅ = 1.2 × 10³ μM). Preincubation of lipoproteins with a lipophilic antioxidant increased the protective effect against various free radicals. Preincubation with hydrophilic antioxidants did not have an effect. We also tested the efficacy of the antioxidants when the free radicals were generated within the lipid or the aqueous environment surrounding the LDL. For this purpose, we used the peroxyl generating azo-compounds AMVN (2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile)) and AAPH (2,2′azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride). All of the antioxidants tested were more effective against free radicals generated in a water soluble medium than they were against free radicals generated in a lipid environment. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that lipid solubility is an important factor for both the antioxidant and the free radical generating systems in determining the extent of lipid peroxidation in LDL. Our data also demonstrate that antioxidant efficacy in one set of experimental conditions may not necessarily translate into a similar degree of protection in another set of conditions where lipophilicity is a variable.     

Modification of human low-density lipoprotein by the lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal

The effects of the lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal on freshly prepared human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were studied. At a fixed LDL concentration (5.7 mg/ml) the amount of 4-hydroxynonenal incorporated into the LDL increased with increasing aldehyde concentration from 28-30 (0.2 mM) to 140 (1 mM) mol per mol LDL, whereas at a fixed aldehyde concentration (0.2 mM) its incorporation into LDL decreased with increasing LDL concentration from 48 (1 mg LDL/ml) to 26 (12 mg LDL/ml) mol 4-hydroxynonenal bound per mol LDL. Of the total hydroxynonenal taken up 78% was bound to the protein and 21% to the lipid moiety; the remaining 1% was dissolved as free aldehyde in the lipid fraction. Amino acid analysis of the apolipoprotein B revealed that 4-hydroxynonenal attacks mainly the lysine and tyrosine residues and to a lesser extent also serine, histidine and cysteine. Treatment of LDL with 4-hydroxynonenal results in a concentration-dependent increase of the negative charge of the LDL particle as evidenced by its increased electrophoretic mobility. Moreover, 4-hydroxynonenal treatment leads to a partial conversion of the apolipoprotein B-100 into higher molecular weight forms most probably apolipoproteins B-126 and B-151. Compared to malonaldehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal exhibits a much higher capacity to modify LDL and it is therefore believed that this aldehyde is a more likely candidate for being responsible for LDL modification under in vivo lipid peroxidation conditions.     

Increase in free radical generation and lipid peroxidation following chemotherapy in patients with cancer

Several anti-cancer drugs are known to bring about their tumoricidal actions by a free radical dependent mechanism. Majority of the studies reported that adriamycin, mitomycin C, bleomycin, etc., augment free radical generation and lipid peroxidation process in vitro. Our results reported here suggest that following chemotherapy both stimulated and unstimulated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes generate increased amounts of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. This was accompanied by increased formation of lipid peroxidation products as measured by thiobarbituric acid assay. These results confirm that many anti-cancer drugs augment free radical generation and lipid peroxidation even in an vivo situation.     

Kinetics of lipid peroxidation in compartmentalized systems initiated by a water-soluble free radical source

Kinetic rate laws arising from theoretical expectations for the oxidation of lipids initiated by water-soluble free radicals in compartmentalized systems under different experimental conditions are deduced. In particular, the predictions for the kinetic reaction orders in: (a) intra-particle oxidizable compound concentration (at fixed number of particles and particle size), alpha; (b) number of particles or analytical lipid concentration (at fixed intra-particle concentration and particle size), beta and (c) initiator, gamma, are obtained. The reaction orders beta and gamma are determined by the fraction of initiator derived radicals captured by the particles (f) and the mean number of chain carrying radicals per particle () when the system reaches the steady state condition. Predicted orders in initiator range from 0 ( = 0.5) to 0.5 (f-->1; > > 1), while the order in number of particles ranges between 0.5 (f-->1; > > 1) and 1. These predictions are tested by measuring the kinetic law for the oxidation of SUV's egg yolk phosphatidylcholine vesicles initiated by the thermal decomposition of ABAP. The results indicate that, under the conditions employed, beta = 0.68 +/- 0.05 and gamma = 0.46 +/- 0.04. These values are close to those expected for a system in which > > 1 and the efficiency of capture is relatively high. This last condition is confirmed by estimating the efficiency of capture from a comparison of induction times elicited by similar concentrations of Trolox and alpha-tocopherol.     

Fatty liver induced by free radicals and lipid peroxidation

An excessive accumulation of fat in the liver leads to chronic liver injury such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is an important medical problem affecting many populations worldwide. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, but the exact nature of active species and the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. It was previously found that the administration of free radical-generating azo compound to mice induced accumulation of fat droplet in the liver. The present study was performed aiming at elucidating the changes of lipid classes and fatty acid composition and also measuring the levels of lipid peroxidation products in the liver induced by azo compound administration to mouse. The effects of azo compound on the liver were compared with those induced by high fat diet, a well-established cause of NAFLD. Azo compounds given to mice either by intraperitoneal administration or by dissolving to drinking water induced triacylglycerol (TG) increase and concomitant phospholipid decrease in the liver, whose pattern was quite similar to that induced by high fat diet. Lipid peroxidation products such as hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid were increased in the liver in association with the increase in TG. These results show that free radicals as well as high fat diet induce fatty liver by similar mechanisms, in which lipid peroxidation may be involved.     

Fatty liver induced by free radicals and lipid peroxidation

Abstract

An excessive accumulation of fat in the liver leads to chronic liver injury such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is an important medical problem affecting many populations worldwide. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, but the exact nature of active species and the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. It was previously found that the administration of free radical-generating azo compound to mice induced accumulation of fat droplet in the liver. The present study was performed aiming at elucidating the changes of lipid classes and fatty acid composition and also measuring the levels of lipid peroxidation products in the liver induced by azo compound administration to mouse. The effects of azo compound on the liver were compared with those induced by high fat diet, a well-established cause of NAFLD. Azo compounds given to mice either by intraperitoneal administration or by dissolving to drinking water induced triacylglycerol (TG) increase and concomitant phospholipid decrease in the liver, whose pattern was quite similar to that induced by high fat diet. Lipid peroxidation products such as hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid were increased in the liver in association with the increase in TG. These results show that free radicals as well as high fat diet induce fatty liver by similar mechanisms, in which lipid peroxidation may be involved.     

Antioxidative effects of green tea polyphenols on free radical initiated and photosensitized peroxidation of human low density lipoprotein

Antioxidative effects of the main polyphenolic components extracted from green tea leaves, i.e. (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and gallic acid (GA), against free radical initiated peroxidation of human low density lipoprotein (LDL) were studied. The peroxidation was initiated either thermally by a water-soluble initiator 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane hydrochloride) (AAPH), or photochemically by a triplet sensitizer benzophenone (BP). The reaction kinetics was monitored by the uptake of oxygen and the depletion of alpha-tocopherol (TOH) presented in the native LDL. Kinetic analysis of the antioxidation process demonstrates that these green tea polyphenols are effective antioxidants against both AAPH-initiated and BP-photosensitized LDL peroxidation. The antioxidative action of the green tea polyphenols includes trapping the initiating and/or propagating peroxyl radicals with the activity sequence EC>EGCG>ECG>EGC>GA for the AAPH initiated peroxidation, and reducing the alpha-tocopheroxyl radical to regenerate alpha-tocopherol with the activity sequence of ECG>EC>EGCG>EGC>GA and ECG>EGCG>GA>EC>EGC for the AAPH-initiated and BP-photosensitized peroxidations respectively.     

Antioxidative and prooxidative effects of coumarin derivatives on free radical initiated and photosensitized peroxidation of human low-density lipoprotein

The antioxidative and/or prooxidative activity of 4-methylcoumanrin (MC), 7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (HMC) and 7,8-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (DHMC), respectively, in the peroxidation of human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been studied. The peroxidation was initiated either thermally by water-soluble initiator 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane hydrochloride) (AAPH), or photochemically by a triplet sensitizer benzophenone (BP) or its water-soluble analogue disodium 3,3'-disulfobenzophenonate (DSBP). The reaction kinetics were monitored by the uptake of oxygen and the depletion of alpha-tocopherol (TOH) present in the native LDL. Kinetic analysis of the peroxidation process demonstrated that DHMC is a good antioxidant for both the AAPH-initiated and BP- and DSBP-photosensitized peroxidation; HMC is a prooxidant for the AAPH-initiated and DSBP-photosensitized peroxidation, but an antioxidant for the BP-sensitized peroxidation; MC is a prooxidant in all of these initiation conditions. The antioxidative action of the coumarin derivatives may include trapping the initiating radicals, trapping the propagating lipid peroxyl radicals, recycling alpha-tocopherol and/or deactivating the excited photosensitizer.     

Lipid peroxidation, iron mobilization and radical generation induced by alcohol

Increasing evidence points to a major role for free radicals in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced liver injury. In vitro, free radicals may be generated during ethanol metabolism by the further metabolism of acetaldehyde by molybdenum-dependent oxidases such as xanthine oxidase. Ferritin iron mobilized by such free radicals may serve as catalytic iron. Increased stores of ferritin iron and induction of microsomal P-450 reductase activity are mechanisms by which chronic alcohol feeding may potentiate the acute effects of alcohol.     

On-line EPR study of free radicals induced by peroxidase/H(2)O(2) in human low-density lipoprotein

The aim of this study was to use direct electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy at 37 degrees C and spin trapping techniques to study radical species formed during horseradish peroxidase/H(2)O(2)-initiated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Using direct EPR, we obtained evidence for the formation not only of the alpha-tocopheroxyl radical but also of a protein radical(s), assigned to a tyrosyl radical(s) of apolipoprotein B-100 (apo B-100). Spin trapping with 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane revealed (i) the formation of a mobile adduct with beta-hydrogen coupling assigned to a lipid radical and (ii) a partially immobilised adduct detected in LDL as well as in apo B-100, assigned after proteolytic digestion to the trapping of a radical centred on a tertiary carbon atom of an aromatic residue, probably tyrosine. Our results support the hypothesis that radicals are initiators of the oxidative process, and show that their formation is an early event in peroxidase-mediated oxidation. We also tested the effects of resveratrol (RSV), a polyphenolic antioxidant present in red wine. Our data indicate that 1-10 microM RSV is able to accelerate alpha-tocopherol consumption, conjugated dienes formation and the decay kinetics of LDL-centred radicals. Since phenols are substrates for peroxidases, this result may be ascribed to a RSV-mediated catalysis of peroxidase activity.     

Lipid peroxidation in hepatocyte cell cultures: Modulation by free radical scavengers and iron

Summary Rat hepatocytes were isolated and then maintained in serum-free cell culture medium for 24 h. The amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulated in the medium was assayed and used as a measure of lipid peroxidation. The acivity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and urea were measured in the medium and used as indicators of hepatocellular viability and function. The effects of iron; desferrioxamine mesylate (Desferal), an iron chelator; and mannitol, a hydroxyl free radical scavenger were investigated. The addition of iron, Fe² resulted in a three-fold increase in the levels of MDA. Desferal inhibited the production of MDA and blocked the effect of Fe²⁺. Neither iron nor Desferal had any effect on LDH or urea levels. Mannitol had no effect on MDA or urea production, but caused a 4 to 8-fold increase in the LDH levels in the medium. The results show that iron is involved in the mechanism of lipid peroxidation in hepatocyte cultures but suggest that as a pathologic event lipid peroxidation is not expressed in terms of viability during the first 24 h of hepatocyte culture.     

Dietary natural products as emerging lipoprotein(a)-lowering agents

Elevated plasma lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Hitherto, niacin has been the drug of choice to reduce elevated Lp(a) levels in hyperlipidemic patients but its efficacy in reducing CVD outcomes has been seriously questioned by recent clinical trials. Additional drugs may reduce to some extent plasma Lp(a) levels but the lack of a specific therapeutic indication for Lp(a)-lowering limits profoundly reduce their use. An attractive therapeutic option is natural products. In several preclinical and clinical studies as well as meta-analyses, natural products, including l -carnitine, coenzyme Q ₁₀, and xuezhikang were shown to significantly decrease Lp(a) levels in patients with Lp(a) hyperlipoproteinemia. Other natural products, such as pectin, Ginkgo biloba, flaxseed, red wine, resveratrol and curcuminoids can also reduce elevated Lp(a) concentrations but to a lesser degree. In conclusion, aforementioned natural products may represent promising therapeutic agents for Lp(a) lowering.     

Modification of blood plasma lipoproteins by a lipid peroxidation product--hexanal

HDL treated with hexanal is shown to lose the ability for the cholesterol absorption. In the case of LDL at low concentration of the modifying agent the rate of their elimination from the blood stream of the rabbit decrease, but their uptake by the rat macrophages do not differ from the uptake of native lipoproteins. At high concentration of hexanal the rate of the elimination of LDL from the blood stream increases considerably and is close to that of acetylated LDL. Thus, the modification of plasma lipoproteins with monoaldehydes occurring in the aorta wall leads to the loss of the functional properties of the lipoprotein particles.     

Initiation of lipid peroxidation as a result of hemoglobin transformation into hemichrome induced by free fatty acids

The effects of free fatty acids on hemoglobin conversion and lipid peroxidation were studied in hemoglobin-containing liposomes (hemosomes) formed from an equimolar mixture of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). It was shown that in hemosomes oxyhemoglobin is converted into hemichrome by the interaction of saturated fatty acids (arachidic, stearic, palmitic, myristic and lauric). This is accompanied by accumulation of primary and secondary products of lipid peroxidation. All fatty acids, except for lauric acid, have a stabilizing effect on lipid peroxidation in liposomes prepared from an equimolar mixture of PC and PE. The formation of lipid peroxidation products is inhibited by superoxide dismutase, D-alpha-tocopherol, D-mannitol and thiourea. The relationships between hemoglobin conversion and lipid peroxidation in hemosomes under effects of fatty acids were studied. The mechanisms of these reactions are discussed.