title: Resistin increases lipid accumulation and CD36 expression in human macrophages.
abstract: Excessive lipid accumulation in macrophages plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Recently, several studies have implied that resistin, an adipocytokine which is mainly expressed in human peripheral blood monocytes, may take part in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the effects of resistin on lipid accumulation as well as oxLDL on resistin expression in human macrophages. Treatment of macrophages with oxLDL significantly increased resistin mRNA expression, whereas native LDL had no such effect. Resistin pre-treated macrophages contained more and larger lipid droplets stained by Nile red. Resistin increased the expression of CD36 at both mRNA and protein levels, without affecting those of class A macrophage scavenger receptor (SR-A). These results suggest that resistin promotes lipid accumulation in human macrophages through its upregulating CD36 cell surface expression. Also, it is suggested that resistin may act as a modulator for macrophage-to-foam cell transformation.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Weibin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wenzhong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000502:physiology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010078:Oxazines; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052243:Resistin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051117:Scavenger Receptors, Class A / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D018955:CD36 Antigens; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008055:Lipids; D010078:Oxazines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D052243:Resistin; D051117:Scavenger Receptors, Class A; C044808:nile red