Plasma lipoproteins affect platelet malondialdehyde and thromboxane B2 production

Abstract

Platelet interaction with plasma lipoproteins was studied using gel-filtered platelets free of plasma constituents and purified lipoproteins. On incubation of gel-filtered platelets with plasma lipoproteins at 30°C for 30 min, 100 μg of protein/ml of very-low as well as low-density lipoprotein caused 10% increment in platelet aggregation and [¹⁴C]serotonin release in parallel to elevation of around 15% of malondialdehyde and thromboxane B₂ production. High-density lipoprotein showed the opposite effect and reduced platelet aggregation as well as thromboxane B₂ synthesis by 17 and 32%, respectively. Lipoprotein-deficient plasma enhanced platelet function. Preincubation of the platelet suspension with prostacyclin did not prevent the effect of the lipoproteins on the in vitro platelet response as well as on the platelet prostaglandin pathway. Our results suggest that the formation of thromboxane B₂ and malondialdlehyde is influenced by plasma lipoproteins and that these, in turn, affect platelet aggregation and the release reaction. The possible significance of these results to platelet function in hyperlipidemic patients is discussed.