Oxidized low density lipoproteins (LDL) are highly suspected of initiating the atherosclerosis process. Thyroid hormones and structural analogues have been reported to protect LDL from lipid peroxidation induced by Cu 2+ or the free radical generator 2,2 -azobis-[2-amidinopropane] dihydrochloride in vitro. We have examined the effects of thyroid compounds on macrophage-induced LDL oxidation. Human monocyte-derived macrophages (differentiated U937 cells) were incubated for 24 h with LDL and different concentrations (0-20 µM) of 3,5,3 -triiodo--thyronine (T 3 ), 3,5,3 ,5 -tetraiodo-L-thyronine (T 4 ), 3,3 ,5 -tri-iodo--thyronine (rT 3 ), the T 3 acetic derivative (3,5,3 -tri-iodothyroacetic acid; TA 3 ) or L-thyronine (T 0 ) (experiment 1). Cells were also preincubated for 24 h with 1 or 10 µM of the compounds, washed twice, then incubated again for 24 h with LDL (experiment 2). Oxidation was evaluated by measurement of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and cell viability by lactate deshydrogenase release. In experiment 1, T 0 had no effect, whereas the other compounds decreased LDL TBARS production, but T 3 and TA 3 were less active than T 4 and rT 3 (IC 50 : 11·0 2·6 and 8·1 0·8 vs 1·4 0·5 and 0·9 0·3 µM respectively). In experiment 2, the compounds at 1 µM had no effect; at 10 µM, T 3 and rT 3 slightly reduced LDL TBARS production, whereas TA 3 and T 4 inhibited it by about 50% and 70% respectively. TBARS released by the cells were also highly decreased by T 3 , T 4 , rT 3 and TA 3 in experiment 1, but only by T 3 (30%) and T 4 (70%) in experiment 2. Cell viability was not affected by the compounds except slightly by TA 3 at 10 µM. The data suggested that the physicochemical antioxidant capacity of thyroid compounds was modulated by their action on the intracellular redox systems of macrophage. Overall cellular effects of T 3 led to a reduction of its antioxidant capacity whereas those of T 4 increased it. Thus T 4 might protect LDL against cellular oxidation in vivo more than T 3 .