Native and oxidized low density and very low density lipoprotein enhance the expression of MIP-1α mRNA in aortic smooth muscle cells

AIM: To understand whether native and oxidized low density and very low density lipoprotein (n-LDL, n-VLDL, ox-LDL, ox-VLDL) enhance the expression of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)1α mRNA in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs). METHODS: Native low density and very low density lipoprotein were isolated from normal blood donors by density gradient ultracentrifugation, and were oxidatively modified by adding CuCl2. After a 24 h-exposure of the cultured SMCs to n-LDL， n-VLDL， ox-LDL and ox-VLDL, respectively, the expression of MIP-1α mRNA was determined by in situ hybridization and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Cultured aortic SMCs expressed MIP-1α mRNA at low level. N-LDL， n-VLDL， ox-LDL and ox-VLDL enhanced the expression of MIP-1α mRNA in SMCs, ox-LDL and ox-VLDL showed stronger effect than n-LDL and n-VLDL, respectively. The effect of ox-VLDL was most striking. There was a significant difference between groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: N-LDL, n-VLDL, especially ox-LDL and ox-VLDL, may play an important role in the formation of early atherosclerotic lesion by inducing SMCs to express MIP-1α.