Low ionic strength promotes association of circulating modified LDL in human blood

The resistance to association of circulating multiply-modified low-density lipoproteins (LDL) isolated from human blood and characterized by a decreased content of sialic acids in comparison with native LDL was studied by analysing light transmission fluctuations. LDL association was stimulated by decreasing environmental ionic strength. It is established that circulating modified LDL are less resistant to association than native LDL. Association of LDL in a medium with low ionic strength was irreversible. Probably, increased capacity to irreversible association determines the atherogenic properties of circulating modified LDL subfraction.