Autofluorescence detection of oxidized LDL in monocytes: a novel risk factor for the assessment of atherosclerosis?

摘要

Oxidative modification of the major cholesterol carrying lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), renders it more atherogenic as well as inducing unique fluorescence spectral characteristics that distinguish it from native (non-oxidized) LDL. This fluorescence feature has been identified using a microspectrofluorometry system capable of recording autofluorescence of individual cultured macrophages incubated with oxidized LDL. Differences in fluorescence spectra between individual control cells and oxidized LDL loaded cells could also be elicited using dye-enhanced fluorescence with neutral lipid probes such as nile red. Autofluorescence spectroscopy applied to the detection of intracellular oxidized LDL accumulation in circulating monocytes may be useful for identifying a novel risk factor in the assessment of atherosclerosis.