Atherosclerotic lesions contain relatively large quantities of IgG. We have previously shown that both human and rabbit sera contain autoantibodies against epitopes of oxidized (Ox) low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and that LDL isolated from atherosclerotic lesions contains small amounts of tightly bound IgG. However, it is not known whether IgG isolated from atherosclerotic lesions recognizes epitopes present in native LDL or Ox-LDL. IgG was isolated from Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbit atherosclerotic lesions by sequential salt extractions, purified by fast protein liquid chromatography on protein G, and used in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. IgG and immune complexes were also isolated from the saline extracts of human lesions by adsorption onto latex beads coated with anti-human IgG antibodies or protein A. IgG isolated from rabbit lesions showed significant titers against malondialdehyde (MDA)-modified LDL and LDL oxidized by copper ions for 4 and 18 hours but not against native LDL. On Western blots, lesion IgG stained MDA-LDL and fragments of Ox-LDL. Western blots of immune complexes isolated from human lesions revealed the presence in the isolated complexes of both apoprotein B and apoprotein B fragments, which reacted with antibodies to MDA-lysine. Furthermore, rabbit lesion IgG immunostained epitopes of Ox-LDL present in human atherosclerotic lesions. Immunostains obtained with rabbit lesion IgG were similar to those obtained with a monoclonal antibody specific for MDA-lysine. The results show that human and rabbit atherosclerotic lesions contain IgG that recognizes epitopes characteristic of Ox-LDL. These data suggest that immunologic processes may be an important component of the atherogenic process.

Increasing evidence indicates that low density lipoprotein (LDL) has to be modified to induce foam cell formation. One such modification, oxidation of LDL, generates a number of highly reactive short chain-length aldehydic fragments of oxidized fatty acids capable of conjugating with lysine residues of apoprotein B. By immunizing animals with homologous malondialdehyde-modified LDL (MDA-LDL), 4-hydroxynonenal-LDL (4-HNE-LDL), and Cu+(+)-oxidized LDL, we developed polyvalent and monoclonal antibodies against three epitopes found in oxidatively modified LDL. The present article characterizes an antiserum and monoclonal antibody (MAL-2 and MDA2, respectively) specific for MDA-lysine, and an antiserum and monoclonal antibody (HNE-6 and NA59, respectively) specific for 4-HNE-lysine. In addition, a monoclonal antibody (OLF4-3C10) was developed against an as yet undefined epitope generated during Cu++ oxidation of LDL. With these antibodies, we demonstrated that MDA-lysine and 4-HNE-lysine adducts develop on apo-lipoprotein B during copper-induced oxidation of LDL in vitro. The application of these antibodies for immunocytochemical demonstration of oxidized lipoproteins in atherosclerotic lesions of progressive severity is described in the companion article. These antibodies should prove useful in studying the role of oxidatively modified lipoproteins as well as other oxidatively modified proteins in atherogenesis.

It has been proposed that low density lipoprotein (LDL) must undergo oxidative modification before it can give rise to foam cells, the key component of the fatty streak lesion of atherosclerosis. Oxidation of LDL probably generates a broad spectrum of conjugates between fragments of oxidized fatty acids and apolipoprotein B. We now present three mutually supportive lines of evidence for oxidation of LDL in vivo: (i) Antibodies against oxidized LDL, malondialdehyde-lysine, or 4-hydroxynonenal-lysine recognize materials in the atherosclerotic lesions of LDL receptor-deficient rabbits; (ii) LDL gently extracted from lesions of these rabbits is recognized by an antiserum against malondialdehyde-conjugated LDL; (iii) autoantibodies against malondialdehyde-LDL (titers from 512 to greater than 4096) can be demonstrated in rabbit and human sera.