KILLING OF ARTERIAL SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELLS BY CHYLOMICRON REMNANTS

Chylomicron remnants were found to be cytotoxic to cultured arterial s mooth muscle cells. Cell death was estimated by two methods: colourime tric assay using a tetrazolium salt and trypan blue staining. Both met hods showed considerable cell death. Twenty-five micrograms of cholest erol/ml of chylomicron remnants appeared not to injure smooth muscle c ells; however, greater concentrations (= and >50 mu g cholesterol/ml) caused considerable damage. Our observations may offer a possible caus e of cell death in atherosclerotic plaques. (C) 1996 Academic Press, I nc.