S. Parthasarathy et al., OXIDIZED LOW-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN, A 2-FACED JANUS IN CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE, Biochemical pharmacology, 56(3), 1998, pp. 279-284
The word antioxidant has become a household term, and every day we are
bombarded with claims of antioxidant protection against a host of dis
eases. Atherosclerosis, cancer, gastric ulcers, memory loss, rheumatoi
d arthritis, endometriosis, pregnancy complications, hypertension, str
oke, and a host of other diseases have been suggested to be induced by
oxidative stress, and antioxidants have been suggested to be benefici
al in the prevention and treatment of these disorders. While some of t
hese may be exuberant claims, atherosclerosis is one disease in which
the oxidation hypothesis has taken firm roots. The oxidation of low-de
nsity lipoprotein (LDL) has been suggested to be a key step in the ini
tiation of the early atherosclerotic lesion. A number of proatherogeni
c effects have been described for both the protein and lipid component
s of oxidized low-density lipoprotein. In this commentary, a brief des
cription of the involvement of oxidation and the potential for antioxi
dant treatment for cardiovascular disease will be provided. However, t
here are innumerable questions plaguing the hypothesis; this commentar
y, therefore, will also serve as a devil's advocate and propose that s
ome form of oxidation might actually be beneficial. BIOCHEM PHARMACOL
56;3:279-284, 1998. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.