The role of low-density lipoprotein immune complexes in the transformation of macrophages into foam cells

acrophages are transformed into foam cells upon exposure to LDL immune complexes (LDL-IC). The clinical relevance of this is supported by a correlation between anti-LDL titers and progression of carotid atherosclerosis. Previous studies demonstrated a marked accumulation of cholesteryl esters in human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMM) incubated with LDL-IC. Here we investigated macrophage metabolism of LDL-IC and their cholesterol homeostatic response to LDL-IC. Using...