Abstract
Background
The adhesion of monocytes to the endothelium following accumulation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in subendothelial spaces is an important step in the development of intimal hyperplasia in arterially implanted vein grafts and atherosclerosis in both animals and humans. However, it is not well known how serum factors affect the adhesion of monocytes.
Methods
We have studied the effect of fetal calf serum (FCS), which we considered a source of LDL, on the adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells (ECs) by using human monocytic THP-1 cells and both a monolayer of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (EC monoculture) and a co-culture with bovine aortic smooth muscle cells (EC-SMC co-culture).
Results
It was found that the addition of FCS to the medium greatly affected the adhesion of THP-1 cells, and the higher the concentration of FCS in the medium, the greater the adhesion of THP-1 cells to endothelial cells. Adhesion of THP-1 cells to an EC-SMC co-culture was approximately twofold greater than that to an EC monoculture, and after adhering to endothelial cells, many THP-1 cells transmigrated into the layer of smooth muscle cells.
Conclusion
The results suggest that the elevation of the LDL (cholesterol) level in blood provides a favorable condition for the development of intimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis by promoting the adhesion of monocytes to the endothelium and their subsequent migration into subendothelial spaces.
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Project supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas (No. 15086201) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, and the Health Bureau of Zhejiang Province (No. 2007B132), China
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Fan, Lj., Karino, T. Effect of serum concentration on adhesion of monocytic THP-1 cells onto cultured EC monolayer and EC-SMC co-culture. J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B 9, 623–629 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B0820046
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B0820046
Key words
- Endothelial cells (ECs)
- Smooth muscle cells (SMCs)
- Monocyte
- THP-1 cells
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
- Adhesion
- Transendothelial migration
- Serum concentration