Glucose-Induced Enhancement of Hemin-Catalyzed LDL OxidationIn VitroandIn Vivo

Growing evidence indicates that oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is increased in diabetes mellitus; however, the mechanism(s) of this phenomenon is still unclear. gamma-Glutamyl semialdehyde (gammaGSA) is a product of hemin (Fe(3+)-protoporphyrin IX)-catalyzed oxidation of apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB- 100) proline and arginine residues. On reduction, gammaGSA forms 5-hydroxy-2-aminovaleric acid (HAVA). This report describes the application of sensitive HAVA assay, to characterize gammaGSA formation in LDL under normo- and hyperglycemic conditions, both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro studies revealed that apoB-100 proline and arginine residues are not oxidized to HAVA by HOCl or the myeloperoxidase/hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) oxidation system. Cu(2+), Cu(2+)/H(2)O(2), and Fe(2+) induced only minor HAVA formation. In contrast, the hemin oxidation system appeared reactive toward LDL apoB-100 proline and arginine residues. The resulting significant HAVA formation was specifically inhibited by a redox-inert ferric iron chelator. Glucose further enhanced hemin-induced increase in relative electrophoretic mobility of LDL and apoB-100 HAVAformation. In vivo we observed elevated concentrations of HAVA in LDL apoB-100 in patients with impaired glucose tolerance and with manifest diabetes mellitus. In conclusion, glucose promotes iron-mediated oxidation of apoB- 100 proline and arginine residues via a superoxide-dependent mechanism, thus rendering the LDL particles more atherogenic. The findings (a) identify a potential mechanism of enhanced atherogenesis in subjects with diabetes mellitus and (b) support the value of HAVA as a specific marker of LDL apoB-100 oxidation. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 7, 1507-1512.