Immunological responses to oxidized LDL

Considerable evidence now points to an important role for the immune system in experimental models of atherosclerosis. We have reviewed the growing bo dy of evidence that oxidation of LDL generates a wide Variety of neoself de terminants that lead to cellular and humoral immune responses. In particula r, we have demonstrated that at least some of the oxidation-specific epitop es generated on the oxidized LDL particle, such as oxidized phospholipid ep itopes, are also generated on apoptotic cells and are also present on the s urface of some bacteria. Many of these same epitopes serve as important lig ands mediating the binding and clearance of oxidatively damaged lipoprotein particles and apoptotic cells, and the innate immune response to these epi topes can be seen as a conserted response to effect their removal. In addit ion, other epitopes of OxLDL also undoubtedly play a role in the immune act ivation that characterizes the progressive atherosclerotic plaque. It will be of great importance to define the importance of the role of these respon ses and to understand which are beneficial and which deleterious. Such info rmation could lead one day to novel therapeutic approaches to inhibit ather ogenesis that take advantage of the ability to manipulate the immune respon se. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.