ALPHA TOCOPHEROL EFFECT ON MONOCYTES IN RELATION TO ATHEROGENESIS

氧化型低密度脂蛋白（Ox-LDL）在动脉粥样硬化发病机制中的作用已得到越来越多的研究支持。 它已被证明可以促进单核细胞趋化性，并被巨噬细胞清道夫受体吸收，导致胆固醇酯化。 Ox-LDL具有细胞毒性，可加速动脉粥样硬化病变的发展。 动脉壁的所有主要细胞（平滑肌细胞、内皮细胞、单核细胞）都可以氧化LDL。这表明呼吸爆发对于活化的单核细胞氧化LDL导致其细胞毒性是重要的。 LDL在体内的氧化机制仍有待阐明。 抗氧化剂如α-生育酚能够降低LDL对氧化的敏感性。 目前还不清楚抗氧化剂如何影响体内可以氧化LDL的动脉壁细胞。 迄今为止，还没有发表过研究检查抗氧化剂补充剂对动脉壁细胞（如单核细胞和内皮细胞）的影响。因此，本研究的目的是测试α生育酚补充对单核细胞功能的影响，因为它与脂质过氧化和动脉粥样硬化形成有关，因为它是动脉壁中最容易获得的细胞。

Much data have accrued supporting the role of oxidized LDL(Ox-LDL) in the pathogenesis of atheroschlerosis. It has been shown to promote monocyte chemotaxis and is taken up by the macrophage scavenger receptor resulting in cholesterol esterification. Ox-LDL is cytotoxic and may hasten development of the atherosclerotic lesion. All major cells of the artery wall (smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, monocytes) can oxidize LDL. It appears that the respiratory burst is important for the oxidation of LDL by activated monocytes resulting in its cytotoxicity. The mechanism of LDL oxidation in vivo remains to be elucidated. Antioxidants such as alpha tocopherol are able to reduce the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation. It is unknown how antioxidants can affect the cells of the artery wall that can oxidize LDL in vivo. No studies published to date have examined the effect of antioxidant supplementation on the cells of the arterial wall, such as monocytes and endothelial cells. Hence, it is the aim of the study to test the effect of alpha tocopherol supplementation on monocyte function as it relates to lipid peroxidation and atherogenesis, since it is the most readily available cell in the arterial wall for study.