The expression of maxiK channel alpha--subunit during human macrophages differentiating into foam cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of MaxiK channel alpha-subunit during human monocyte-derived macrophages differentiating into foam cells.


METHODS
Human peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from male healthy volunteers by density gradient centrifugation, which, by culture, differentiated further into macrophages as a homogeneous monocyte population. The foam cell model originated from human macrophage was established by incubating macrophages with oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL). The expression of MaxiK channel alpha-subunit was investigated by RT-PCR techniques, Western blotting and immunocytochemistry.


RESULTS
After incubating macrophages with 30 mg/L OxLDL for 60 hours, the cellular contents of total cholesterol (TC), free cholesterol (FC) and cholesterol ester (CE) were markedly increased and the ratio of CE/TC was further raised from (14.437 +/- 6.781) % to (57.946 +/- 3.507) %. Although the expression of MaxiK channel alpha-subunit was downregulated during human monocyte-derived macrophages differentiating into foam cells, there was no significant difference between macrophages and foam cells (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
That 30 mg/L OxLDL can lead the monocyte-derived macrophage cultured for 60 hours to differentiate into foam cell, but the expression of MaxiK channel alpha-subunit does not change obviously.
Lei
Xin-Jun
XJ
Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Ma
Ai-Quna
AQ
Xi
Yu-Tao
YT
Zhang
Wei
W
Yao
Yan
Y
Du
Yuan
Y
Wang
Ting-Zhong
TZ
Geng
Tao
T
D000328:Adult; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D002784:Cholesterol