Haemoglobin as a promoter of oxidative processes

Recent studies have revealed that ruptured erythrocytes in vitro are capable of mediating the oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL)[52], Oxidation of low density lipoprotein in the artery wall is now known to be an important aspect of fatty streak formation contributing to the development of the atherosclerotic plaque [57] (Fig. 11) (see Chapter 10). Antioxidants which inhibit 

All the cell types involved, monocytes, macrophages, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, generate superoxide radicals, albeit it at different rates and to different extents. But superoxide radicals per se are not of sufficient reactivity to mediate LDL oxidation. Our studies have addressed the potential ability of haemoglobin released from ruptured erythrocytes to play a role in the oxidation of LDL via propagation mechanisms of lipid hydroperoxides or 

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