ABSTRACT
AIM: Stable human macrophage-derived foam cell model is significant for the study on artherosclerosis. This study investigated the feasibility of establishing macrophage-derived foam cell model using U937 cell lines. METHODS: The experiment was performed at Institute of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical College from March to September 2006. ①U937 cell lines were purchased from Institute of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. ②Sixteen bottles of U937 cells (109 L-1) were incubated at 37 ℃ in saturated humidity containing 5% CO2 for 72 hours. Among them, eight bottles contained 100 ?g/L phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and 100 mg/L low-density lipoprotein (LDL) as experimental group, and the other eight bottles only 100 mg/L LDL as control group. ③Cell morphology was studied under light microscope by Wright's and Oil red O staining. Cell total cholesterol (TC) was measured after 72 hours of incubation. RESULTS: A large amount of lipid droplets were found in the cytoplasm by Oil red O staining in cells of the experimental group, but not found in control group cells. TC in cells of the experimental group was significantly higher than in control group [(520.13?37.52), (39.47?9.26) mg/g, t=35.18, P