| The objective of this text is to investigate the atherogenic role of low density lipoprotein and lipoprotein (a) immune complexes (ICs), discussing their atherogenic value. ICs were prepared by using human oxidized and native lipoprotein interaction with sheep antibodies against human apolipoprotein B, respectively. Rat macrophages were incubated with ICs and the cholesterylester(CE) was determined. U937 cells were treated with ICs for 24h, then the cells were collected and total RNA was isolated. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) mRNA expression was assessed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Also the expression of bax and bcl-2 mRNA was estimated. The results showed that oxidized and native lipoprotein ICs both induced CE accumulation in macrophages. Furthermore, the macrophages were found translated into foams. The degree of CE accumulation in macrophages improved, along with ICs level increasing. And the expression of MMP-1 was upregulated by ICs, the expression of TIMP-1 was downregulated by Ox- lipoprotein and Ox- lipoprotein ICs, at the same time, the effects were concentration dependent. Also, the expression of bax was upregulated and the expression of TIMP-1 was downregulated by Ox- lipoprotein and Ox-lipoprotein ICs. We concluded that ICs play an important role in atherosclerosis. |
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