Eicosanoid generation and responsiveness of human lymphatics in hyperlipoproteinemia

In this work, the oxidation injury in hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP) was determined by measuring the isoprostane 8-epi-prostaglandin (PG) F2alpha in human lymphatics, lymph fluid, plasma, serum and urine. Lymphatics from 6 patients with HLP generated less PGI2 and contained more 8-epi-PGF2alpha as compared to 6 normolipemics without risk factors. Likewise, plasma (29.3 vs 19.7 pg/ml), lymph fluid (137.3 vs 65.3 pg/ml), serum (286.7 vs 204.1 pg/ml) and urinary (360.8 vs 241.0 pg/mg creatinine) values of 8-epi-PGF2alpha in HLP (as compared to normolipemics) were significantly elevated. Lymphatics from HLP showed an enhanced contractile response, less 14C-arachidonic acid conversion to PGI2 and less PGI2-formation upon various stimuli compared to normolipemics of comparable age. These findings indicate that HLP-induced oxidation injury, resulting in an altered (iso-)eicosanoid production and function, may also significantly affect (patho-) physiology of lymphathics.