LPS-induced cytokine production and expression of beta 2-integrins and CD14 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

II has been suggested that proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1), as well as adhesion mole cules such as beta 2-integrins and CD14, play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal diseas e in which defective or absent LDL receptors are the cause for extreme LDL concentrations and early development of atherosclerosis. We studied lipopol ysaccharide-induced cytokine production and the expression of adhesion mole cules by mononuclear cells of three homozygous FH patients and compared the m with first-degree relatives and healthy controls. There was a tendency to wards increased cytokine production by cells of FH patients, whereas the ex pression of adhesion molecules was not modified compared to controls, In ad dition, LDL-apheresis inhibited IL-1 and TNF production and the expression of CD11a, CD11b, CD11c and CD14 by the mononuclear cells of FH patients and this may be an additional beneficial effect of LDL-apheresis apart of decr easing LDL concentrations. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All right s reserved.