Figure 5

Oxysterol and isoprostane as a function of high-density lipoprotein subunits and size. Levels of the oxysterol ‘7-Ketocholesterol’ and of the isoprostane ‘11ß-Prostaglandin F2α’ are represented as functions of proportions of (A-D) HDL subunits of diameter greater than 12.9 nm (‘HDL 12.9 nm’), (B-E) high-density lipoprotein 2b (‘HDL2b’), or (C-F) high-density lipoprotein 3c (‘HDL3c’) in summer active (blue dots) and winter hibernating (red dots) brown bears. Please note the exponential relationships between levels of 7-Ketocholesterol and (A) HDL 12.9 nm or (C) small HDL3c subunits, indicating a strong effect of intermediate and large HDL particle size in reducing levels of cholesterol derivatives with inflammatory properties. Lipoprotein particles associated with anti-atherogenic effects are indicated in green, whereas the pro-atherogenic factor (HDL3c) is indicated in red-Bordeaux. Regression statistics from linear mixed-effects models: (A) R² = 0.34, t = 6.14, p < 0.001; (B) R² = 0.04, t = − 1.04, p = 0.41; (C) R² = 0.58, t = 16.84, p = 0.03; (D) R² = 0.43, t = − 3.68, p = 0.008; (E) R² = 0.26, t = − 2.52, p = 0.04; (F) R² = 0.36, t = 3.16, p = 0.02.