Plasma peroxidized low-density lipoprotein with hydroperoxidized cholesteryl linoleates estimated in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia

Evidence of modified LDL in the plasma of hypercholesterolemic WHHL rabbits injected with aqueous extracts of cigarette smoke

Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis, and oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) is a key event in the development of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to determine whether modified LDL would be formed in the plasma of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits injected with nicotine-free cigarette smoke extracts (CSE). In order to assess this, cigarette smoke-modified LDL (CS-LDL) was prepared by incubation of rabbit native LDL (N-LDL) with CSE for 24 h. The oxidative modification in CS-LDL was well established by the reduced ratio between two LDL subfractions (LDL2/LDL3) separated by anion-exchange HPLC, together with the fast migration in the anodic direction in agarose gel electrophoresis and the increased lipid peroxide levels. Very similar modification was noted with mildly oxidatively modified LDL prepared by incubation of N-LDL with 5 µM CuCl(2) for 1 h. When WHHL rabbits (n=4) intravenously received a single injection of CSE, the ratio of LDL2/LDL3 was markedly reduced compared with the control rabbits (n=4) while total cholesterol levels in the plasma gradually decreased until 24 h after the injection. These results suggest that oxidatively modified LDL, probably like CS-LDL, is produced in the plasma of WHHL rabbits injected with CSE.

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay of hydroperoxide levels in oxidatively modified lipoproteins

An anion-exchange HPLC method has been developed for the chemiluminescence (CL) assay of hydroperoxide (HPO) levels in native and oxidized low density lipoproteins (N- and Ox-LDLs, respectively) of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits. The method involves anion-exchange HPLC separation in N- and Ox-LDLs using a DEAE-glucomannan gel, and direct CL detection of HPOs in them without extraction of the lipids following postcolumn reaction with isoluminol, microperoxidase and Triton X-100. Addition of Triton X-100, which could solubilize lipids, were essential for the detection of HPOs in N- and Ox-LDLs. With an increase in the degree of oxidation, Ox-LDL was more retained on the DEAE-glucomannan gel with a concomitant increase in the CL intensity. The proposed method could analyze the HPO levels in N- and Ox-LDLs of WHHL rabbits without extraction of the lipids.

Evidence of modified lipoprotein in the plasma of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits by anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatographic assay

We searched for evidence for the presence of oxidatively modified low density lipoproteins (Ox-LDL) in the plasma of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits using an anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method newly developed for the assay of artificially modified lipoproteins. Various Ox-LDLs were prepared by incubation of native LDL (N-LDL) from rabbit plasma with 5 microM CuCl2 for 0, 1, 3 and 24 h, and separated by anion-exchange HPLC method using a DEAE-glucomannan gel column. With an increase in the incubation time, LDL was further oxidized and retained on the DEAE-glucomannan gel. This oxidized LDL migrated faster in the anodic direction in agarose gel electrophoresis, accompanied by an increase in lipid peroxide levels, estimated as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). There was a good agreement in the chromatographic and electrophoretic behaviors of the various Ox-LDLs. LDL from WHHL rabbits showed increases in TBARS levels, electrophoretic mobility on agarose gel electrophoresis and cholesteryl ester accumulation in mouse peritoneal macrophages compared to that from normolipidemic Japanese white (JW) rabbits. When LDLs from both animals were compared by the anion-exchange HPLC method using linear gradient or stepwise elution, LDL from WHHL rabbits had a longer retention time and was eluted by a higher concentration of sodium chloride. These results suggest that LDL in WHHL rabbit plasma may undergo mild oxidative modification.