ABSTRACT
Lipid peroxidation of the polyunsaturated fatty acids esterified to the Sn-2 position of glycerophospholipids of LDL proceeds via the formation of a diene conjugate and thence a peroxy radical. The peroxy radical then reacts with water to become a stable hydroperoxide or breaks down to release various aldehydes, ketones and hydroxylipids.31 The short-chain fatty acyl group that remains attached to the glycerol backbone is then thought to be cleaved by the action of an LDL-associated phospholipase A2 (platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase, PAF-AH), resulting in the formation of lysolipids, such as lysophosphatidylcholine. Polyunsaturated fatty acyl groups of cholesteryl esters and cholesterol itself are also susceptible to oxidation.
