title: Melatonin inhibits oxidative modification of human low-density lipoprotein.
abstract: An important property of melatonin is that it is a free-radical scavenger or antioxidant. Since free radicals can induce oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), a process believed to be involved in atherogenesis, we were prompted to evaluate the capacity of melatonin to prevent oxidative modification of LDL. To induce oxidation, human LDL (0.4 mg protein/ml) was incubated at 37 degrees C with either 10 microM cupric chloride or 10 mM 2,2'-azo-bis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) for 3 hr or 24 hr, respectively. Several assays were then performed to unequivocally determine the extent of LDL oxidation. Compared to native LDL, oxidized LDL had increased agarose gel electrophoretic mobility and weaker immunoreactivity with a murine monoclonal antibody to human apolipoprotein B-100. Measurement of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) revealed that native LDL contained 1.8 +/- 0.6 nmoles TBARS/mg protein, whereas copper-oxidized LDL contained 53 +/- 4 nmoles TBARS/mg protein. However, when present during incubation, melatonin (0.125-4 mM) inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner the increase in electrophoretic mobility, decrease in immunoreactivity of LDL, and increase in formation of TBARS caused by either copper or AAPH. In a fourth assay, phospholipid analysis of LDL was performed. Native LDL contained 420 +/- 9 nmoles phosphatidylcholine (PC)/mg LDL protein and 30 +/- 20 nmoles lysophosphatidylcholine (LysPC)/mg LDL protein. LDL incubated with copper had a decreased PC content (276 +/- 48 nmoles PC/mg LDL protein) and increased LysPC content (76 +/- 22 nmoles LysPC/mg LDL protein). But when present during the incubation of LDL with copper, melatonin attenuated in a concentration-dependent manner the degradation of PC to LysPC. Therefore, we conclude that melatonin can inhibit oxidative modification of LDL in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food, Nutrition and Food Service Management, School of Human Environmental Sciences, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 27412-5001, USA.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loo
mesh_terms: D000578:Amidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000578:Amidines; D000975:Antioxidants; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; C046728:2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane); D003300:Copper; D008550:Melatonin; C029892:cupric chloride