Generation of hydroxyl radical from lipid hydroperoxides contained in oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein

When low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was oxidatively modified and incubated with an epinephrine-FeCl3 mixture, an electron spin resonance spectrum characteristic of the spin adduct of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide and hydroxyl radical (DMPO-OH) was obtained. The amount of DMPO-OH formed increased with an increase in the concentration of lipid hydroperoxides contained in the oxidatively modified LDL. These results indicate that oxidatively modified LDL would generate hydroxyl radicals in vivo if an appropriate iron chelate were present and that the cytotoxicity of oxidatively modified LDL is ascribable, at least in part, to its capability to generate such radicals.