Non-linear Optical Responses of Low-Density Lipoprotein are Associated with Intima-Media Thickness of Carotid Artery in Athletes

• Published in: Cell biochemistry and biophysics Vol. 74; no. 2; pp. 253 - 262
• Main Authors: Fonseca, Henrique Andrade R., Bittencourt, Célia R., Fonseca, Francisco A., Monteiro, Andrea M., Santos, Priscila R., Camargo, Luciano, Costa, Luiz A. R., Murad, Alexandre, Gidlund, Magnus, Figueiredo-Neto, Antonio M., Izar, Maria Cristina O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Athletes; Biochemistry; Biological and Medical Physics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biophysics; Biotechnology; Carotid Arteries - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Arteries - pathology; Carotid Arteries - physiology; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Cell Biology; Female; Humans; Life Sciences; Lipoproteins, LDL - metabolism; Male; Nonlinear Dynamics; Optical Phenomena; Original Paper; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygen Consumption; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Young Adult; Subclinical atherosclerosis; Z-scan; Oxidized low-density lipoprotein; Athletes
• ISSN: 1085-9195; 1559-0283; 1559-0283
• DOI: 10.1007/s12013-016-0720-2

We investigated the association between the degree of oxidative modification of LDL particles by non-linear optical response of LDL (Z-scan technique) and the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in different segments of the carotid artery. We recruited high-intensity athlete runners ( n  = 44) and controls ( n  = 51) to participate in the study. The carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), interleukin 10 (IL-10), TNF-alpha, and the non-linear optical responses of LDL particle (Z-scan) were assessed. In athletes, the mean cIMT differed between genders, with higher values observed in female athletes compared to male athletes ( P  < 0.05). Higher mean values for cIMT were seen in the right carotid arteries of female athletes as compared to female controls ( P  < 0.05). Higher levels of TNF-alpha and IL-10 were found in athletes ( P  < 0.05). Yet, Δ Γ pv (transmittance curve) of Z-scan in athletes was higher than in the non-athletes, indicating less oxidation in LDL particles of athletes ( P  < 0.05). There was an inverse association between the Δ Γ pv and cIMT in the right internal carotid segments ( β  = −0.163, P  < 0.05) in all subjects, and between the VO 2max and the mean cIMT ( β  = −0.003, P  < 0.05) in male subjects. The present study shows that the Z-scan technique enabled to detect less oxidative modifications in LDL particles from athletes. This effect was associated with cIMT in a gender-dependent mode.