Structural and functional changes in HDL with low grade and chronic inflammation

Abstract Objective HDL functionality has been shown to be impaired in inflammatory conditions, including coronary artery disease. The present study aims to determine the impact of low grade and acute inflammation on HDL function and structure. Approach and results i) The endothelial protective effects of HDL were compared between 26 periodontal patients and 26 age and sex matched controls by measuring paraoxonase activity in serum and nitric oxide bioavailability and superoxide production in endothelial cells. Paraoxonase activity and nitric oxide bioavailability were reduced, while superoxide production was increased (p Conclusion This study demonstrates that even minor alterations in systemic inflammation can impair the endothelial protective effects of HDL. These functional changes were independent of cholesterol efflux and were associated with remodeling of the HDL proteome. All measures of HDL's endothelial protective functions recovered with resolution of inflammation. These findings suggest that HDL dysfunction may represent a novel mechanism linking inflammation with progression of atheroma.