A. Kontush et al., alpha- and beta-Carotenes in low density lipoprotein are the preferred target for nitric oxide-induced oxidation, ATHEROSCLER, 148(1), 2000, pp. 87-93
Citations number
45
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
Whereas low plasma levels of carotenes are strongly associated with the ele
vated risk of atherosclerosis, the reason for this is still unknown. We hyp
othesized that lipoprotein oxidation in the arterial wall might selectively
deplete carotenes, thus explaining the observed effects. In order to asses
s this hypothesis, we incubated plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) with d
ifferent oxidants and measured the consumption of carotenes and tocopherols
. We found that when LDL oxidation was induced by nitric oxide, both alpha-
and beta-carotene were consumed at a significantly higher relative rate th
an alpha- or gamma-tocopherol. In contrast, superoxide: peroxynitrite, hypo
chlorite or transition metal ions were unable to induce selective consumpti
on of carotenes in LDL. These data suggest that the decreased plasma levels
of alpha- and beta-carotene frequently measured in atherosclerosis may be
related to their preferred consumption by reactive nitrogen species in the
arterial wall. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.