Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) particles contain low molecular weight species which are cytotoxic and pro-atherogenic. Many of these substances were recently isolated and purified from oxLDL, and identified as phosphatidylcholine species containing a fragmented, oxidized short-chain fatty acid remnant at the sn-2 position. KDdiA-PC is one of the most potent CD36 ligands among the oxLDL species. KDdiA-PC confers CD-36 scavenger receptor binding affinity to LDL at a frequency of only two to three KDdiA-PC molecules/LDL particle, and may be one of the more important structural determinants of oxLDL.
