α1-antitrypsin low-density-lipoprotein serves as a marker of smoking-specific oxidative stress

Aim: while smoking cessation (sc) leads to a reduction of cardiovascular events,atherogenic biomarkers specifically connected with cigarette smoking and sc are unknown. circulating levels of oxidatively modified low-density-lipoprotein (ldl) are associated with a high risk of cardiovascular diseases. recently,two novel,oxidatively modified ldl markers,serum amyloid a-ldl (saa-ldl) and α1-antitrypsin-ldl (at-ldl),were identified; however,the significance of saa-ldl and at-ldl as cardiovascular risk markers is unknown. methods: we carried out a cross-sectional study involving 243 patients,and determined serum levels of saa-ldl and at-ldl. results: both serum levels of saa-ldl and at-ldl were significantly increased in current compared to non-current smokers. stepwise regression analysis revealed that the current smoking status and duration of smoking were strong independent determinants of the at-ldl level. in contrast,high-sensitivity c-reactive protein was the strongest determinant of the saa-ldl level. in multiple logistic regression analysis,the current smoking status was most closely associated with the at-ldl level. successful sc employing a 12-week program significantly increased the body mass index and serum levels of obesity-related markers. notably,successful sc significantly decreased levels of at-ldl,but not those of saa-ldl. conclusions: the present study provides the first evidence for the distinct characteristics of two novel,oxidatively modified ldl markers,saa-ldl and at-ldl. in contrast to saa-ldl,an inflammatory marker,at-ldl serves as a marker of smoking-specific oxidative stress. these findings warrant further investigations to clarify if at-ldl provides a key link between smoking and cardiovascular diseases.