Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Induces Apoptosis of Human Endothelial Cells by Activation of CPP32-Like Proteases

Abstract

oxLDL activates the suicide pathway leading to apoptosis of endothelial cells by enhancing CPP32-like protease activity. The oxLDL-mediated activation of CPP32 appears to involve the elaboration of reactive oxygen species. Activation of the cell death effector CPP32 by oxLDL may provide a mechanistic clue to the "response-to-injury" hypothesis of atherogenesis.