Desialylation of low density lipoprotein--metabolic function versus oxidative damage?

Low density lipoproteins are generally considered to play a major role in the development of atherosclerotic vascular diseases. There is growing interest in LDL subspecies, especially in their density, carbohydrate content and oxidizability, which is supposed to enhance atherogenicity. We investigated the influence of desialylation on the resistance of the lipoprotein particles towards Cu(II) prooxidative activity.