Insoluble complex formation between LDL and arterial proteoglycans in relation to serum lipid levels and effects of lipid lowering drugs

Lipoprotein deposition and increased intimal proteoglycans are characteristics of the atherosclerotic lesion in which low density lipoproteins (LDL) bind with high affinity to proteoglycans. The affinity of LDL to proteoglycans is dependent on its structural and compositional characteristics. This study investigated the relationship between serum lipid levels and LDL-proteoglycan reactivity. We also analyzed how lipid-lowering drugs affect this interaction. Patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia (n = 147) were randomized to pravastatin 40 mg o.d., gemfibrozil 600 mg b.i.d., gemfibrozil + pravastatin (same doses) or placebo. LDL reactivity with proteoglycans was analyzed by precipitation of serum with isolated human arterial proteoglycans. Reactivity was determined as amount of precipitated cholesterol or apolipoprotein (ape) B. Under the conditions used, 53% of the LDL cholesterol and 29% of serum apo B were precipitated. There were strong correlations between precipitated LDL and serum levels of cholesterol, LDL or apo B. No correlations were found with serum lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels. During pravastatin treatment, cholesterol was reduced by 26.5% and triglycerides by 9.8%. During gemfibrozil treatment corresponding figures were 16.8 and 40.2, and for the combined treatment, 27.5% and 34.2%. On all treatments, the reactivity of LDL with proteoglycan was reduced. The effects were significantly larger in the groups treated with gemfibrozil. This was correlated with the increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) during gemfibrozil treatment. In hypercholesterolemia, the reactivity of LDL with proteoglycan is increased; treatment with lipid-lowering drugs lowers this reactivity, the effect being greatest for gemfibrozil. This might be due to conformational changes of LDL during treatment with gemfibrozil, unrelated to its lipid lowering effect. Since binding of LDL to proteoglycans is central in atherogenesis, this may be of importance for the role of gemfibrozil as an antiatherogenic drug.