title: Circulating autoantibodies against the apolipoprotein B-100 peptides p45 and p210 in relation to the occurrence of carotid plaques in 64-year-old women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Immune responses against oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) play a key role in atherosclerosis. Previous studies have indicated inverse associations between autoantibodies to epitopes in oxidized LDL and cardiovascular disease. In this study we investigated the associations between autoantibodies against the apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100) peptides p45 and p210 and occurrence of carotid plaques.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study cohort consisted of a population-based sample of 64-year-old women with varying degrees of glucose tolerance (n=594). To identify and record the occurrence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques ultrasonography was used. Measurements of plasma IgM and IgG autoantibodies against the native and malondialdehyde (MDA)-modified apoB-100 peptides p45 and p210 were performed by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with carotid plaques were found to have lower levels of IgM MDA-p210 autoantibodies compared to plaque-free women. The number of carotid plaques in each subject and the total carotid plaque area correlated inversely with IgM MDA-p210 levels (r=-0.11, P=0.009 and r=-0.11, P=0.013, respectively). Furthermore, levels of IgM MDA-p210 above the lowest tertile were associated with an odds ratio of 0.55 (95% CI 0.38-0.79, P=0.001) for occurrence of carotid plaques, independently of other risk markers and statin treatment. Associations between apo-B100 peptide autoantibodies and cardiovascular risk factors were generally weak but subjects with impaired glucose tolerance had higher levels of IgM against MDA-p210.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates that high levels of IgM against MDA-p210 are associated with less severe carotid disease in women. These findings provide additional support for a role of immune responses against oxidized LDL in cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Wallenberg Laboratory for Cardiovascular Research, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fagerberg
authors.affiliation: Wallenberg Laboratory for Cardiovascular Research, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ulrica
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Prahl Gullberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ragnar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alm
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gunilla Nordin
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Fredrikson
mesh_terms: D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100 / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C524806:apolipoprotein B-100 (661-680), human