Injury to cultured human fibroblasts induced by low density lipoproteins: Potentiating and protective factors

Abstract

Low density lipoproteins (LDL) injured cultured fibroblasts provided a certain ratio existed between lipoproteins and infranatant proteins. The mechanism of action appeared similar to the mechanism whereby LDL injure endothelial cells in culture. Enrichment of normal fibroblasts with cholesterol esters by pre-treatment with chloroquine and LDL potentiated injury inflicted by subsequent LDL exposure. Pretreatment with chloroquine alone offered partial protection against LDL-induced damage while indomethacin and sulphinpyrazone added prior to or together with LDL had no effect.

Key-words:

• chloroquine
• cholesterol
• cholesterol esters
• indomethacin
• sulphinpyrazone