title: Quantification of low density lipoprotein binding and cholesterol accumulation by single human fibroblasts using fluorescence microscopy.
abstract: Using fluorescence microscopy, we have quantified low density lipoprotein (LDL) binding by indirect immunofluorescence and cellular cholesterol with the fluorescent sterol-binding polyene, filipin, in individual cultured human fibroblasts from normal subjects and from patients with heterozygous and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. LDL binding by fibroblasts from heterozygous patients was about 40% of that of the normal cells, and cholesterol accumulation upon incubation with LDL was decreased to a similar degree. Most fibroblasts from homozygous patients bound no detectable LDL and only rare cells demonstrated any accumulation of cholesterol after incubation with LDL.
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D005372:Filipin; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D005372:Filipin; D002784:Cholesterol