Plasma oxidized lipoprotein(a) and its immune complexes are present in newborns and children.
BACKGROUND
Oxidized Lp(a) [ox-Lp(a)] has been reported to play more potent roles than native Lp(a) in atherosclerosis. We investigated the distribution characteristics of plasma ox-Lp(a) and Lp(a) immune complex [Lp(a)-IC] levels in newborns and children.


METHODS
Plasma ox-Lp(a) and Lp(a)-IC levels were measured in 747 children and 30 cord blood by ELISAs.


RESULTS
The mean levels of Lp(a), ox-Lp(a) and Lp(a)-IC were much lower in newborns than in children (P<0.001), and increased rapidly to that in children after birth. The distributions of Lp(a), ox-Lp(a) and Lp(a)-IC were skewed toward low values in children, no difference of their levels was found in each of the 13year groups. The levels of ox-Lp(a) correlated positively with total and LDL cholesterol, Lp(a) and Lp(a)-IC; Lp(a)-IC correlated positively with sex, total and LDL cholesterol, Lp(a) and ox-Lp(a), respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed Lp(a) and Lp(a)-IC accounted for 42% of the variation in ox-Lp(a) levels, and ox-Lp(a) accounted for 30% of that in Lp(a)-IC.


CONCLUSIONS
The fact that ox-Lp(a) and Lp(a)-IC are present in newborns and children suggests that oxidized lipoproteins play an initiating role in atherosclerotic process.
Wang
Junjun
J
Department of Biochemistry, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medicine, Nanjing University, 210002, Nanjing, PR China.
Niu
Dongmei
D
Meng
Yang
Y
Han
Aizhong
A
Li
Ke
K
Zhang
Chunni
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012737:Sex Factors
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D017270:Lipoprotein(a)