title: Endocytosed lysophosphatidylcholine, through the scavenger receptor, plays an essential role in oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced macrophage proliferation.
abstract: The growth of cellular components is one of the characteristic events in the development of atherosclerosis. It is generally accepted that smooth muscle cells proliferate in atherosclerotic lesions. It has recently become evident that macrophage-derived foam cells also proliferate in the early stage of the atherosclerotic lesions. Our recent reports have demonstrated induction of macrophage proliferation in vitro by oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), in which a transport of lysophosphatidylcholine into cells by efficient endocytic uptake of Ox-LDL through the scavenger receptor pathway is important. Because macrophage-derived foam cells play an important role in the development of the early atherosclerotic lesions, it seems reasonable to expect that the Ox-LDL-induced macrophage proliferation may be linked to atherosclerotic processes in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Metabolic Medicine, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Honjo 2-2-1, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shichiri
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hakamata
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horiuchi