Generation of platelet-activating factor (PAF)-like phospholipids in blood circulation under elevated oxidative stress: Its pathological significance on atherosclerosis

Oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is known to be a critical factor for pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Several newly generated lipid components in the oxidatively modified LDL (oxLDL) have been shown to exert undesirable effects on various vascular cells. In particular, phosphatidylcholine (PC) having an oxidatively shortened fatty acyl group with a methyl, hydroxyl, oxo or carboxyl terminal attained interest, since they mimic diverse effects of platelet-activating factor (PAF), a mediator of inflammation, owing to their structural analogy to PAF. In this article, generation of PAF-like lipids in response to elevated oxidative stress due to cigarette smoking is documented, and its possible significance on atherogenesis is discussed.