Introduction
Malondialdehyde/Acetaldehyde (MAA) modified proteins have been suggested to play a role in the development/progression of atherosclerosis. Circulating antibodies directed against these proteins have recently been shown to be associated with the severity of the disease. More specifically, the isotype of the antibody to MAA correlated with either an acute MI (IgG) or stable plaque formation (IgA) formation. MAA is thought to form as a result of the oxidation of fat(s) and thus the concentration and antibody response should reflect the amount of fat in the diet.
Objective
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibody responses to MAA modified proteins following immunization and high fat western diet feeding in rats.
Methods
Male Sprague Dawley rats were immunized with MAA-modified protein weekly for 5 weeks and then assayed for antibodies to these proteins. Animals were then separated into the following groups: chow sham, chow MAA immunized, high fat sham, and high fat MAA immunized. The high fat animals were fed a Western diet with 2-thiouracil for 12 weeks, bled every 3 weeks, and serum assayed for the presence of circulating MAA antibodies.
Results
Prior to feeding with high fat diet, rats immunized with MAA-modified protein had a significant increase (P<0.001) in serum antibodies directed against these modified proteins compared to controls (N of 4 per group). Following feeding of high fat diet antibody concentrations increased 6 fold in the high fat MAA immunized group compared to the chow MAA immunized group (P<0.05). Antibodies in the high fat sham and chow sham had only minimal increases in antibodies to these proteins.
Conclusions
These data demonstrate that following immunization with MAA-modified proteins, circulating antibodies are produced that increase following consumption of a high fat Western diet. It suggests that MAA-modified proteins are produced at low levels following normal diet, producing antibodies which act as a normal clearance method for altered protein. When high fat consumption increases these antibody levels are increased in response to the oxidative stress.
Implications
Use of these antibodies as a biomarker in the future may help predict the onset or progression of atherosclerosis.
Effects of a high-fat diet and global aryl hydrocarbon receptor deficiency on energy balance and liver retinoid status in male Sprague-Dawley rats
