Role of electronegative LDL and its associated antibodies in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerotic vascular disease has a wide range of clinical and pathological manifestations; nevertheless, inflammation is common in all stages of the disease. Electronegative LDL, or LDL(-), is a minimally modified form of LDL with distinct biological activities that not appear in native LDL. LDL(-) can elicit several inflammatory responses, including the induction of chemotactic or proinflammatory proteins by endothelial cells and macrophages, which contribute to atherogenesis. LDL(-) promotes atherosclerosis through inflammatory and immunologic mechanisms that lead to the production of autoantibodies and to the subsequent formation of immune complexes and macrophage foam cells. This article reviews the involvement and contribution of LDL(-) to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.