Oxidation of plasmalogens produces highly effective modulators of macrophage function

Model derivatives of plasmalogens and chemically synthesized oxidative degr adation products as found e.g. during oxidation of low density lipoproteins show strong effects on phagocytosis induced secretion of reactive oxygen s pecies of macrophages which was measured by luminol-enhanced chemiluminesce nce. Whereas a plasmalogen epoxide showed enhancing effects in submicromola r range, inhibition was found with higher concentrations as well as with al pha-hydroxyaldehydes. The substances showed only little effects on the non- cellular ROS-dependent chemiluminescence of the reaction between hydrogen p eroxide and opsonized zymosan and no cytotoxic effects under the assay cond itions used. These results show that oxidative modification and degradation of plasmalogens occuring also under pathophysiological situations in vivo produces effective modulators of macrophage function which could be importa nt. e.g. during inflammation or atherogenesis.