Background The expression degree of CD36 in monocytes-macrophages is one of the important factors affecting lipid accumulation and foam cell transformation. Atorvastatin has anti-atherosclerosis as well as lowering bl...Background The expression degree of CD36 in monocytes-macrophages is one of the important factors affecting lipid accumulation and foam cell transformation. Atorvastatin has anti-atherosclerosis as well as lowering blood lipid. Thus, we investigate the effect of atorvastatin on expression of CD36 and uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein(ox-LDL) during the formation of macrophage-derived foam cells human U937 cell line. Methods U937 cells were incubated with ox-LDL 80 mg / L to induce their transformation into foam cells. The medium was pretreated with atorvastatin 10 nmol / L. The contents of total cholesterol(TC) and cholesterol ester(CE) in cells were measured by the enzymatic fluorometric method. CD36 protein and mRNA expression levels were measured by flow cytometry and reverse transcription PCR. Results After incubated with ox-LDL, the contents of TC and CE in U937 cells increased from 302 mg / g cell protein and87 mg / g cell protein to 469 mg / g cell protein and 226 mg / g cell protein respectively. CD36 protein and mRNA expression appeared. Incubated together with atorvastatin and ox-LDL, the contents of TC and CE decreased from 469 mg / g cell protein and 226 mg / g cell protein to 378 mg / g cell protein and 119 mg / g cell protein, the levels of CD36 protein and mRNA also decreased respectively from 25.8% and 1.27 to 17.2% and0.95 compared with being incubated only with ox-LDL. Conclusion Atorvastatin could inhibit the expression of CD36 protein and mRNA in U937 cells and decrease lipid deposition, which is the important mechanism of anti-atherosclerosis as well as lowering blood lipid.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81270235)the Sci-tech Development Program of Shaanxi Province(No.2012K15-01-01)
文摘Background The expression degree of CD36 in monocytes-macrophages is one of the important factors affecting lipid accumulation and foam cell transformation. Atorvastatin has anti-atherosclerosis as well as lowering blood lipid. Thus, we investigate the effect of atorvastatin on expression of CD36 and uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein(ox-LDL) during the formation of macrophage-derived foam cells human U937 cell line. Methods U937 cells were incubated with ox-LDL 80 mg / L to induce their transformation into foam cells. The medium was pretreated with atorvastatin 10 nmol / L. The contents of total cholesterol(TC) and cholesterol ester(CE) in cells were measured by the enzymatic fluorometric method. CD36 protein and mRNA expression levels were measured by flow cytometry and reverse transcription PCR. Results After incubated with ox-LDL, the contents of TC and CE in U937 cells increased from 302 mg / g cell protein and87 mg / g cell protein to 469 mg / g cell protein and 226 mg / g cell protein respectively. CD36 protein and mRNA expression appeared. Incubated together with atorvastatin and ox-LDL, the contents of TC and CE decreased from 469 mg / g cell protein and 226 mg / g cell protein to 378 mg / g cell protein and 119 mg / g cell protein, the levels of CD36 protein and mRNA also decreased respectively from 25.8% and 1.27 to 17.2% and0.95 compared with being incubated only with ox-LDL. Conclusion Atorvastatin could inhibit the expression of CD36 protein and mRNA in U937 cells and decrease lipid deposition, which is the important mechanism of anti-atherosclerosis as well as lowering blood lipid.