Linoleic acid peroxidation - the dominant lipid peroxidation process in low density lipoprotein - and its relationship to chronic diseases

Modern separation and identification methods enable detailed insight in lip id peroxidation (LPO) processes. The following deductions can be made: (1) Cell injury activates enzymes: lipoxygenases generate lipid hydroperoxides (LOOHs), proteases liberate Fe ions-these two processes are prerequisites t o produce radicals. (2) Radicals attack any activated CH2-group of polyunsa turated fatty acids (PUFAs) with about a similar probability. Since linolei c acid (LA) is the most abundant PUFA in mammals, its LPO products dominate . (3) LOOHs are easily reduced in biological surroundings to corresponding hydroxy acids (LOHs). LOHs derived from LA, hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (H ODEs), surmount other markers of LPO. HODEs are of high physiological relev ance. (4) In some diseases characterized by inflammation or cell injury HOD Es are present in low density lipoproteins (LDL) at 10-100 higher concentra tion, compared to LDL from healthy individuals. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science I reland Ltd. All rights reserved.