Oxidized phospholipid modification of lipoprotein(a): Epidemiology, biochemistry and pathophysiology

Oxidized phospholipids (OxPL) are key mediators of the pro-atherosclerotic effects of oxidized lipoproteins. They are particularly important for the pathogenicity of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), which is the preferred lipoprotein carrier of phosphocholine-containing OxPL in plasma. Indeed, elevated levels of OxPL-apoB, a parameter that almost entirely reflects the OxPL on Lp(a), are a potent risk factor for atherothrombotic diseases as well as calcific aortic valve stenosis. A substantial fraction of the OxPL on Lp(a) are covalently bound to the KIV