Atorvastatin Inhibits The Development of Macrophages to Foam Cells / 中华高血压杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate effects of atorvastatin on the development from macrophages (HMDM) to foam cells.Methods Monocytes were isolated from human peripheral blood by Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation and plastic adsorptive process.The isolated cells were stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) (50 nmol/L) for 48 h and transformed to macrophages.Macrophages were co-incubated with 80 mg/L ox- idized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and atorvastatin (0-100 ?mol/L),respectively for 0,6,12 and 24 h. Total cholesterol (TC),free cholesterol (FC) and protein (Pro) in cultured cells were quantitatively analyzed by high performance chromatography (HPLC) analysis and modified Lowry protein assay.Results When macropha- ges were incubated with 80 mg/L ox-LDL,the ratio of TC/Pro was greater than 20,and large amount of lipid drop- lets were displayed indicating the formation of foam cells.Atorvastatin decreased TC/Pro ratio in foam cells in a concentration and time dependent manner (0-100 ?mol/L)(P