Cytokines, modified lipoproteins, and arteriosclerosis in diabetes.

Modified lipoproteins, particularly different forms of oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), have been reported to elicit humoral immune responses both in experimental animals and humans. In diabetes, glycation and oxidation processes coexist and lead to the formation of glycoxidation products. Ox-LDL has been demonstrated in atheromatous lesions, anti-ox-LDL antibodies have been detected in circulation and in atheromatous plaques, and immune complexes (ICs) formed with LDL and anti-LDL (LDL-IC) have been isolated from the serum of patients with manifestations of atherosclerosis. In addition, in vitro formed LDL-ICs and ICs isolated from patients have been demonstrated to cause intracellular accumulation of cholesteryl esters (CEs) in human macrophages and fibroblasts. The accumulation of CEs in macrophages exposed to LDL-ICs is unique to this type of IC and is associated with paradoxical overexpression of LDL receptor and with increased synthesis and release of interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha. The overexpression of LDL receptors is higher in LDL-IC-stimulated macrophages that release markedly high amounts of TNF-alpha than in macrophages that release low amounts of TNF-alpha into the medium. The release of cytokines in the subendothelial space may have a significant role in promoting the interaction of endothelial cells with mononuclear cells, causing endothelial cell damage directly or indirectly, and also in inducing smooth muscle cell proliferation. Thus, in view of the above data, it can be concluded that humoral autoimmunity may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in diabetes.