Fusion of modified LDL in the arterial wall promotes atherogenesis. Earlier we showed that thermal denaturation mimics LDL remodeling and fusion, and revealed kinetic origin of LDL stability. Here we report the first quantitative analysis of LDL thermal stability. Turbidity data show sigmoidal kinetics of LDL heat denaturation, which is unique among lipoproteins, suggesting that fusion is prece...

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a risk factor of coronary heart diseases. The estimation of LDL-C (LDL-Cal) level was performed using Friedewald's equation for triglyceride (TG) level less than 400 mg/dL. Therefore, the aim of this study is to generate a new formula for LDL-Cal and validate the correlation coefficient between LDL-Cal and LDL-C directly measured (LDL-Direct). A da...

Oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) and acetyl LDL are recognized by the scavenger receptor class A type I/II (SR-AI/II) on macrophages and liver endothelial cells. Several investigators have suggested that there are additional receptors specific for oxidized LDL, but characterization of these alternate receptors for oxidized LDL and evaluation of their quantitative importance in uptake of o...

This article is available online at http://www.jlr.org An increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase inhibitors) effectively reduce LDL-C levels and the risk of cardiovascular events ( 1 ). Statins also diminish infl ammation as indicated by a reduction of C-reactive prot...

Interferons have been shown to lower low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations by 20-50%. To evaluate the effect of interferons on LDL metabolic behavior in individuals with normal and mildly elevated LDL cholesterol levels, autologous LDL labeled with 125I was administered to subjects at baseline and during interferon treatment. Interferon beta serine (IFN-beta serine) was admin...

Endothelial dysfunction, or activation, elicited by oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) and its lipid constituents has been shown to play a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We recently have identified a novel receptor for Ox-LDL-designated lectin-like Ox-LDL receptor (LOX-1) in vascular endothelial cells. To examine ligand specificity of LOX-1, we established CHO cell line...

Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH) is characterized by a familial occurrence of a multiple-type hyperlipidemia, associated with coronary risk. The latter may be related to increased levels of small, dense LDL particles that have been found to be more prone to oxidative modification. We isolated total LDL as fresh as possible from 12 normolipidemic relatives with a buoyant LDL subfraction pr...

In subject with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a 50% deficiency of receptors for plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) impairs the removal of LDL from plasma and produces hypercholesterolemia. In these patients mevinolin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, blocks cholesterol synthesis and lowers plasma LDL levels. To determine the mechanism for the LDL-lo...

The early atherosclerotic lesion is comprised of foam cell macrophages filled with cholesteryl ester (CE), unesterified cholesterol (UC), and cholesterol oxides. Upon incubation of macrophages with oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), they accumulate UC rather than CE, which was shown to accumulate after incubation of cells with acetylated LDL (Ac-LDL). Using lipoproteins that were doubly...