Plasmalogen oxidation in human serum lipoproteins.

The content of plasmalogens in lipoproteins--very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL)--in human serum was determined and compared with that after oxidation of the lipoproteins. Similarly, the content of alpha-hydroxyaldehydes produced from plasmalogens via their epoxids during lipidperoxidation (LPO) was studied. Incubation with Fe+ +/ascorbate results in a dramatic decrease in plasmalogens that correlates with an appropriate increase in alpha-hydroxyaldehydes. VLDL and LDL plasmalogens were oxidized to a greater extend (99% decrease) compared to HDL plasmalogens (35%). This finding is discussed with respect to atherogenesis and the recently postulated protective qualities of plasmalogens.