Probucol inhibits lipid peroxidation of macrophage and affects its secretory properties

AIM: To investigate the mechanisms of anti-atherogenic actions of probucol. METHODS: Human peripheral blood monocytes were cultured, and treated by co pper ion (10 mu mol/L) and/or probucol (PBC). Lipid peroxidation was measur ed by assaying malondialdehyde (MDA). The cytokine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and apolipoprotein E (apo E) secreted by monocyte were assayed by en zyme linked immunoassay (ELISA). RESULTS: PBC 10 - 80 mu mol/L inhibited co pper ion-induced cellular lipid peroxidation from 15.30 to 7.74 mu mol MDA/ g cell protein. PBC 40 mu mol/L inhibited oxidized macrophage-mediated oxid ation of LDL from 5.18 to 1.65 mu mol MDA/g cell protein, and attenuated se cretory properties of monocytes induced by copper ion. The release of apo E , which is involved in reverse cholesterol transport, increased by 65 %. An d the release of IL-1 beta, which was shown to enhance vascular smooth musc le cell proliferation, decreased by 45 %. CONCLUSION: Probucol inhibits lip id peroxidation of macrophages and affects their secretory properties.