Electronegative LDL of FH subjects: chemical characterization and induction of chemokine release from human endothelial cells

Electronegative LDL (LDL(−)) constitutes a plasma subfraction of LDL with proinflammatory properties. Its proportion is increased in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH); however, the characteristics of LDL(−) isolated from FH subjects have not been previously studied. In this work, the composition, oxidative status, and inflammatory capacity on endothelial cells of LDL(−) from FH and normolipemic (NL) subjects were evaluated. LDL(−) from FH was relatively enriched in esterified and free cholesterol and triglyceride, and had lower apoB and phospholipid content compared with the non-electronegative fraction (LDL(+)). LDL(−) also contained increased amounts of apoE, apoC-III, sialic acid, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs). The same was observed in NL subjects, except that esterified cholesterol and phospholipid were similar in LDL(−) and LDL(+). No difference was observed between the two fractions concerning malondialdehyde, fatty acid hydroxides, and antioxidants, thereby indicating the absence of increased oxidation of LDL(−) compared with LDL(+). When LDL(−) (100 mg/l) from NL and FH subjects was incubated for 24 h with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) increased twofold in the culture medium compared with LDL(+). Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) expression was not increased by LDL(−). Our data indicate that LDL(−) from FH or NL subjects shows no evidence of increased oxidative modification compared to LDL(+); however, LDL(−) induces twofold the release of chemokines by endothelial cells. This effect, which may contribute to leukocyte recruitment and promote atherogenesis, may be greater in FH subjects in which LDL(−) can be up to eightfold higher than in NL subjects.