Modified LDL in Humans: Effect of Pantethine

Previous studies have established that low density lipoproteins (LDL) incubated with malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidized LDL undergo extensive modification in structure and are specifically recognized by the acetyl-LDL receptor of the macrophages (Fogelman et al. 1980; Henriksen et al. 1981; Steinbrecher et al. 1985). Oxidatively modified LDL are also potentially toxic to endothelial cells (Hessler et al. 1983). The addition of pantethine [D-bis(N-pantothenil-B-aminoethyl)-disulfide] in vitro during the incubation of LDL with O2 prevents the increase of the electrophoretic mobility, the increase of MDA content and the appearance of apoB aggregates in oxidized LDL (Bittolo Bon et al. 1985). The aim of the study was to assess the effect of treatment with pantethine in modifying the LDL peroxidation in vitro. Moreover, the effect of the drug on an LDL subfraction was studied, which was by ion exchange chromatography, that according to our data represents on aliquot of human LDL peroxidized in vivo.