A correlation between atherogenesis and lipoprotein oxidation was firs
t suggested by experiments showing increased uptake by macrophages of
oxidized LDL and oxidized LDL injury to cultured cells. Recent data wh
ich demonstrate the existence of oxidized lipoproteins in vivo, combin
ed with studies showing a 'protective' effect of antioxidants against
atherosclerosis progression, have greatly increased the interest in th
eories posing that lipoprotein oxidation is causally related to arteri
al disease. The fact that dozens of new compounds are produced upon th
e oxidation of low density lipoprotein has led, perhaps not surprising
ly, to numerous discoveries in vitro of altered cell function induced
by exposure of cells to oxidized LDL that are distinct from those resu
lting from exposure to native LDL. This brief overview will describe s
elected altered cell functions of oxidized lipoproteins and how they m
ay impact on atherosclerosis.