12-Lipoxygenase products increase monocyte:endothelial interactions.

In summary, we suggest that hyperglycemia causes upregulation of 12-lipoxygenase activity. The increased production of 12-LO products, 12(S) and 15(S)-HETE, activates monocyte integrins which result in enhanced adhesion of monocytes to endothelium. The binding of monocytes to endothelium is a key early event in development of atherosclerosis. Upregulation of this process by vascular cells exposed to chronic elevations in glucose may be one explanation for the accelerated atherosclerosis observed in patients with Type 2 diabetes.