Separation and characterization of macrophages and smooth muscle cells in rabbit atherosclerotic lesions.
Atherosclerotic aortic intimas of cholesterol-fed rabbits were enzymatically dispersed into single cells by collagenase and elastase. And monocyte-macrophages (M phi) were separated from smooth muscle cells (SMC), using the ability of M phi to adhere to a plastic dish firmly even in the enzyme solutions. Round or oval, heavily lipid-laden cells, so-called foam cells (FC), belonged to the M phi fraction. M phi-FC showed very strong activity for non-specific esterase using alpha-naphthyl butyrate, while SMC showed little or no activity. Some of the FC were large and multinucleated (multinucleated giant foam cells). They also showed positive non-specific esterase staining and are thought to be derived from M phi. M phi-FC synthesized various proliferate in the medium and the number decreased gradually within several days. Some SMC were heavily lipid-laden; however, they retained their original spindle shape. SMC lost lipid droplets gradually as they proliferated to confluence. SMC from atherosclerotic lesions showed higher proliferative activity than those from normal-appearing medias of atherosclerotic aortas or control aortas. Almost no M phi-FC were obtained from the intima-medias of grossly normal portions of atherosclerotic aortas and control aortas. The present method will be useful for studying the role of these cells in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
Naito
M
M
Department of Geriatrics, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Kuzuya
M
M
Funaki
C
C
Nakayama
Y
Y
Asai
K
K
Kuzuya
F
F
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D043182:Carboxylesterase; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D011817:Rabbits
D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; D043182:Carboxylesterase