Coronary atherosclerosis and oxidative stress as reflected by autoantibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein and oxysterols

Clinical studies and animal experiments have demonstrated that oxidized low -density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and oxysterols play important roles in atherog enesis. OxLDL is immunogenic, and autoantibodies (Ab) against oxLDL are det ectable in serum. We investigated the relevance of oxysterols and Ab agains t-oxLDL to coronary artery disease (CAD) in 183 patients undergoing coronar y angiography. Patient groups included angiographically normal subjects (< 75% stenosis), others with spasm (> 75% narrowing in response to acetylchol ine), and some others with fixed stenosis ( > 75%). The group with stenosis was subdivided into patients with stable and unstable angina. Serum concen trations of autoantibodies and 25-, 27-, and 7-beta -hydroxycholesterols we re significantly higher in the stenotic group than in the normal group (P < 0.01. P < 0.05, P < 0.05. and P < 0.05, respectively). Antibodies, but nut oxysterol concentrations, were significantly greater in subjects with unst able than with stable angina (P < 0.01). We conclude that anti-ox LDL antib ody and oxysterol concentrations are associated with coronary artery stenos is, and that oxidative stress may be greatly increased in unstable angina. <(c)> 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.