Apoptotic cells with oxidation-specific epitopes are immunogenic and proinflammatory.

Oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) generates a variety of oxidatively modified lipids and lipid-protein adducts that are immunogenic and proinflammatory, which in turn contribute to atherogenesis. Cells undergoing apoptosis also display oxidized moieties on their surface membranes, as determined by binding of oxidation-specific monoclonal antibodies. In the present paper, we demonstrated by mass spectrometry that in comparison with viable cells, membranes of cells undergoing apoptosis contain increased levels of biologically active oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs).

Identification of a biologically active component in minimally oxidized low density lipoprotein (MM-LDL) responsible for aortic smooth muscle cell proliferation.

Although low concentrations (10 microg/ml) of oxidized LDL density lipoproteins (Ox-LDL) and minimally modified LDL (MM-LDL) can stimulate the proliferation of aortic smooth muscle cells the biologically active component responsible for this phenomena has not been identified. Here we report that the 1-palmitoyl-2-(5-oxovaleroyl)-sn-glycero-4-phosphocholine (m/e594.3) (POVPC) present in MM-LDL but not 1-palmitoyl-2-glutaryl-sn-glycero-3-phophochline (m/e610.

Oxidized phospholipid-induced endothelial cell/monocyte interaction is mediated by a cAMP-dependent R-Ras/PI3-kinase pathway.

Objective: Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of endothelial apical expression of connecting segment-1 (CS-1) fibronectin in mediating the entry of monocytes into atherosclerotic lesions and other sites of chronic inflammation. We previously demonstrated that oxidized PAPC (OxPAPC) increases monocyte-specific binding to arterial endothelium by causing deposition of CS-1 fibronectin on apical alpha5beta1 integrin. The present studies identify important signal transduction components regulating this pathway.

Specific phospholipid oxidation products inhibit ligand activation of toll-like receptors 4 and 2.

Objective: We have previously shown that phospholipid oxidation products of 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (ox-PAPC) inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced E-selectin expression and neutrophil binding in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). The current studies identify specific phospholipids that inhibit chemokine induction by Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) and -2 (TLR2) ligands inECs and macrophages.

Methods And Results: Measurements of interleukin (IL)-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels secreted from ox-PAPC- and LPS-cotreated ECs indicate that ox-PAPC inhibits activation of TLR4 by LPS.

Studies towards the total synthesis of an epoxy isoprostane phospholipid, a potent activator of endothelial cells.

We report studies toward the total synthesis of an epoxy isoprostane, namely the preparation of compound 9 which is an analogue of the elimination product 7 of the naturally occurring epoxy isoprostane 4 by a straightforward route using a three-component coupling, and have shown by several spectroscopic criteria that it closely resembles the natural material.