Identification of lysophosphatidylcholine-chlorohydrin in human atherosclerotic lesions.

ABSTRACT

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPtdCho) levels are elevated in sera in patients with atherosclerosis and in atherosclerotic tissue. Previous studies have shown that reactive chlorinating species attack plasmalogens in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC), forming lysoPtdCho and lysoPtdCho-chlorohydrin (lysoPtdCho-ClOH). The results herein demonstrate for the first time that lysoPtdCho-ClOH is elevated over 60-fold in human atherosclerotic lesions. In cultured HCAEC, 180 lysoPtdCho-ClOH led to a statistically significant increase in P-selectin cell-surface expression, but unlike 181 lysoPtdCho did not lead to cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression. These data show that 180 lysoPtdCho-ClOH is elevated in atherosclerotic tissue and may have unique pro-atherogenic properties compared to lysoPtdCho.