Modified forms of low density lipoprotein affect platelet aggregation

Modified forms of low density lipoprotein (LDL) unlike native LDL can lead to macrophage cholesterol accumulation and foam cell formation. Since platelets interact with both lipoprotein and macrophages in the atherosclerotic plaque, the present study was designed to analyze the effect of modified LDL on washed human platelet composition and aggregation. Platelet aggregation was increased following 2 h of incubation with native LDL. Phospholipase C modified LDL and hepatic lipase modified LDL but not acetyl LDL further increased collagen induced platelet aggregation in a dose dependent manner by up to 15% (p less than 0.01). Oxidized LDL, however, demonstrated 25% reduction in both collagen and ADP induced platelet aggregation in comparison to the effect of native LDL. Platelet aggregation was found to be directly related to changes in platelet phospholipid content whereas platelet cholesterol content was similarly affected by all lipoproteins. Platelet cholesterol/phospholipid ratio was directly related to platelet aggregation. Our study thus demonstrates that modified forms of LDL significantly affect platelet lipid composition and function and if similar interactions occur in vivo it might also affect the atherogenic process.