Possible protective role for C-reactive protein in atherogenesis: complement activation by modified lipoproteins halts before detrimental terminal sequence.

Background: Previous work indicated that enzymatically remodeled LDL (E-LDL) might activate complement in atherosclerotic lesions via a C-reactive protein (CRP)-dependent and CRP-independent pathway. We sought to substantiate this contention and determine whether both pathways drive the sequence to completion.

Methods And Results: E-LDL was prepared by sequential treatment of LDL with a protease and cholesteryl esterase.