OCCURRENCE OF THE SAME PEROXIDATIVE COMPOUNDS IN LOW-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN AND IN ATHEROSCLEROTIC LESIONS FROM A HOMOZYGOUS FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC PATIENT - A CASE-REPORT

Oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and its byprod ucts may play a fundamental role in atherosclerosis. We report an in v itro analysis of LDL peroxidative compounds in an homozygous familial hypercholesterolemic (HFH) patient who subsequently died. During the a utopsy, we analyzed lipids extracted directly from different atheroscl erotic plaques, and we also provided an immunocytochemical analysis us ing the specific monoclonal antibody MDA2 (directed against malondiald eyde-lysine epitopes of oxidized LDL), The results showed that the sam e species of peroxidative compounds were present both in LDL in vitro and in lipids extracted directly from atherosclerotic lesions. Moreove r, the immunocytochemistry analysis revealed a positive staining of at herosclerotic plaques, confirming the presence of LDL oxidation-specif ic epitopes. Although observation of a single case is necessarily limi ted, our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that oxidative mo dification of LDL is involved in human atherogenesis. (C) 1997 Elsevie r Science Ireland Ltd.