Lysophosphatidylcholine, Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein and Cardiovascular Disease in Korean Hemodialysis Patients: Analysis at 5 Years of Follow-up

Although oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) have been proposed as important mediators of the atherosclerosis, the long-term contribution to the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in hemodialysis patients has not been evaluated. This study investigated the relation between oxidized LDL and LPC levels with long term risk of CVD. Plasma oxidized LDL and LPC levels were determined in 69 Korean hemodialysis patients as a prospective observational study for 5 yr. During the observation period, 18 cardiovascular events (26.1%) occurred including 6 deaths among the hemodialysis patients. The low LPC level group ( 254 microM/L) (P = 0.01). However, serum levels of oxidized LDL were not significantly different between groups with and without CVD. In adjusted Cox analysis, previous CVD, (hazard ratio [HR], 5.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.94-16.63, P = 0.002) and low LPC level (HR, 3.45; 95% CI, 1.04-11.42, P = 0.04) were significant independent risk factors for development of CVD. It is suggested that low LPC, but not oxidized LDL, is associated with increased risk of CVD among a group of Korean hemodialysis patients.

Decreased sodium-potassium and calcium adenosine triphosphatase activity in asthma: modulation by inhaled and oral corticosteroids.

The activation of both the inflammation-producing cells and the airway smooth muscle in asthma is believed to be a phenomenon dependent on the intracellular calcium. The activity of Na+ K+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase, enzymes responsible for regulating the intracellular calcium concentrations has been reported to be decreased in asthma. An increase in plasma lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), which is known to be a pro-inflammatory compound and has an inhibitory effect on the two ATPases has also been reported. Corticosteroids are potent antiinflammatory drugs very effective in the treatment of asthma. The effect of long-term (12 weeks) treatment with inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) and short-term (1 week) treatment with oral prednisolone on the activity of the two ATPases and intracellular calcium in leukocytes and plasma LPC levels was investigated. Both the treatments resulted in an improvement in lung function accompanied by an increase in the activities of the ATPases and a decrease in the intracellular calcium and LPC levels. It was concluded that increase in the activities of Na+ K+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase and a consequent lowering of intracellular calcium, and a lowering of plasma LPC may underlie the beneficial effect of corticosteroids in asthma.