Enhancement of cholesteryl ester metabolism in cultured human monocyte-derived macrophages by verapamil.
The effect of the Ca2+ entry blocker, verapamil, on the biosynthesis of cholesterol and the metabolism of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was studied in cultured human monocyte-derived macrophages. Addition of verapamil (50 microM) of monocyte-derived macrophages enhanced 125I-LDL and 125I-labelled acetyl-LDL binding and internalization, and increased [2-14C]acetate incorporation into cholesterol. Since higher levels of LDL and modified lipoproteins may be implicated in atherogenesis, the more efficient processing of these lipoproteins by monocyte-derived macrophages in the presence of Ca2+ blocker warrants further assessment for its potential as an antiatherogenic agent.
D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C032629:acetyl-LDL; D002784:Cholesterol; D014700:Verapamil