title: Metabolism of modified LDL and foam cell formation in murine macrophage-like RAW 264 cells.
abstract: The uptake of modified low density lipoprotein (LDL) by arterial macrophages is a key event in the atherogenesis. We studied 1) the uptake and degradation of modified LDL, 2) LDL recognition by specific receptors, and 3) the foam cell formation with murine macrophage-like RAW 264 cells in vitro. The cells took up and degraded effectively 125I-labeled acetylated LDL (Ac-LDL) and aggregated LDL (Aggr-LDL). Also oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) was taken up but it was degraded poorly. The degradation of 125I-Ac-LDL was efficiently competed by both unlabeled Ac-LDL and Ox-LDL, whereas the degradation of 125I-Ox-LDL was partially competed by unlabeled Ox-LDL and Aggr-LDL but not at all by unlabeled Ac-LDL. The incubation with increasing concentrations of Ac-LDL, Aggr-LDL or Ox-LDL resulted in marked foam cell formation in the RAW 264 cells. Ox-LDL was cytotoxic at 500 to 1000 microg/ml concentrations. The results show that RAW 264 cells have at least two classes of receptors for modified lipoproteins: one that recognizes both Ox-LDL and Ac-LDL, and is similar to the scavenger receptors, and another that recognizes Ox-LDL but not Ac-LDL. RAW 264 cells are a convenient model cell line for examining the metabolism of modified lipoproteins, not only that of Ac-LDL but also that of Ox-LDL and Aggr-LDL, and cellular accumulation of lipids derived from modified LDL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Medical School, University of Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ylitalo
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jaakkola
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lehtolainen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ylä-Herttuala
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C032629:acetyl-LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein