title: Asymmetric dimethylarginine upregulates the expression of ACAT-1 in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) on ACAT-1 expression and cholesterol content in THP-1-derived macrophages and foam cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  THP-1 cells were induced to differentiate into macrophages and further into foam cells. The macrophages and foam cells were exposed to different concentrations (0, 3.75, 7.5, 15, and 30 µmol/L) of ADMA for varying time lengths (6, 12, and 24 h), and the changes in ACAT-1 mRNA and protein levels in the cells were measured with RT-PCR and Western blotting. The cellular cholesterol content was measured with enzyme-linked colorimetry assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In THP-1-derived macrophages and foam cells, the expression levels of ACAT-1 mRNA and protein and cellular cholesterol content increased significantly in response to ADMA treatment in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ADMA may play an important role in inducing foam cell formation from macrophages. ACAT-1 inhibition targeting the macrophages and foam cells may serve as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Kunming Medical University, China. zhuzhendong77@sina.com.cn
authors.forename: Zhen-dong
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jun-qin
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong-jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Dian-hua
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000101:Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D002784:Cholesterol; C506639:ACAT1 protein, human; D000101:Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase