CHOLESTERYL ESTER ACCUMULATION IN MACROPHAGES TREATED WITH OXIDIZED LOW-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN

The ability of CuSO4- and hypochlorite-oxidized LDL to promote cholest erol accumulation in macrophages was examined, Both CuSO4- and hypochl orite-oxidized LDL were rapidly metabolized by mouse peritoneal macrop hages to a level approximately 10 times that observed for native LDL a nd both modified lipoproteins increased the accumulation of unesterifi ed cholesterol, However when each modified lipoprotein was incubated w ith macrophages for 40 h, only hypochlorite-oxidized LDL produced sign ificant accumulation of cholesteryl esters, with levels approaching 85 mu g/mg cell protein, This finding was verified by nile red staining, The cholesteryl ester content of cupric sulfate-modified LDL was foun d to be significantly decreased when compared to either native or hypo chlorite-modified LDL promotes massive cholesteryl ester accumulation because the cholesteryl ester content of the LDL particle is preserved .