Reactive oxygen species generation in peripheral blood monocytes and oxidized LDL are increased in hyperlipidemic patients.
OBJECTIVE
Experimental and in vitro evidences have established that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by vascular wall cells play a key role in atherogenesis. Here, we evaluated the rate of ROS generation by resting peripheral monocytes in naive hyperlipidemic subjects.


METHODS
Primary hypercholesterolemic, combined hyperlipidemic, and normolipidemic individuals were studied. ROS generation and the mitochondrial electrical transmembrane potential were estimated by flow cytometry. Plasma oxidized (ox) LDL levels and lipid profile were measured by ELISA and enzymatic colorimetric methods.


RESULTS
Both hyperlipidemic groups presented significantly higher rates of monocyte ROS generation and elevated plasma levels of ox-LDL. Combined hyperlipidemic subjects presented increased levels of small dense LDL and insulin. Significant positive correlations between monocyte ROS generation and ox-LDL concentrations were found in pooled data.


CONCLUSIONS
These data provide evidence that ROS production by circulating monocytes from hyperlipidemic subjects may contribute to the systemic oxidative stress and possibly to atherogenesis.
Vasconcelos
Edilma M A
EM
Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP, SP, Brazil.
Degasperi
Giovanna R
GR
de Oliveira
Helena C F
HC
Vercesi
Aníbal E
AE
de Faria
Eliana C
EC
Castilho
Lucia N
LN
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000097:blood*
D008074:Lipoproteins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein