Autoantibodies against oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein in patients with Behcet's disease

Background: Change of lipids and lipoprotein metabolism and an imbalance of the oxidant-antioxidant system related to the disease activity have been r eported in Behcet's disease. Therefore, there is a tendency of oxidative mo dification of lipids and lipoproteins in patients with the disease. Objecti ve: To investigate serum autoantibodies against oxidatively modified low-de nsity lipoprotein (oxLDL) as a marker for the degree of in vivo oxidation o f lipoproteins in Behcet's disease. Methods: Serum autoantibodies against o xLDL, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein (Apo) Al, Apo B, alpha(1)-antitrypsin, alpha(2)-macroglobul in and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were determined in 37 patients and 30 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers. Autoantibodies against oxLDL were measured by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Serum autoantibody levels against oxLDL were significantly higher in patients th an in controls (425 +/- 365 and 187 +/- 132 mU/ml, respectively; p < 0.05). The levels of autoantibodies against oxLDL in the patients were found to c orrelate with total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and al-an titrypsin levels (r = 0.38, p < 0.05; r = 0.42, p < 0.05; r = -0.38, p < 0. 05; r = 0.42, p < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: It has been shown in pre vious studies that high autoantibody titers against oxLDL may be important in diseases with atherosclerosis as seen in systemic lupus erythematosus an d rheumatoid arthritis. High autoantibody titers against oxLDL are not spec ific for Behcet's disease but probably important for pathologic processes i n the disease. We suggest that increased levels of autoantibodies against o xLDL may be a factor responsible for endothelial dysfunction and developmen t of vascular pathology in Behcet's disease.