Uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein in a THP-1 cell line lacking scavenger receptor A

We previously isolated THP-1 subtype cells (sTHP-1), a cell line that expresses scanty amounts of scavenger receptor A (ScR-A) and does not undergo foam cell formation when incubated with acetylated low-density lipoprotein (Ac-LDL). In this study, we investigated the accumulation of esterified cholesterol in sTHP-1 cells incubated with oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL), a physiologically modified lipoprotein in human. While sTHP-1 cells incubated with Ac-LDL accumulated only small amounts of esterified cholesterol, those incubated with Ox-LDL accumulated amounts similar to those accumulated by parent THP-1 (pTHP-1) cells. sTHP-1 cells expressed CD36 in amounts similar to the amounts expressed by pTHP-1 cells, and Ox-LDL was internalized through this CD36. The amount of accumulated esterified cholesterol was 73–81% of that accumulated in pTHP-1 cells expressing ScR-A. The levels of 125I-Ox-LDL binding, association, and degradation in sTHP-1 cells were 64–70% of the corresponding levels in pTHP-1 cells. In our experiments utilizing ScR-A-deficient sTHP-1 cells and a specific antibody against human CD36, most of the Ox-LDL interacted with the CD36 receptor. In addition, a substantial amount of Ox-LDL (28–42%) was bound and degraded by sTHP-1 macrophages when both of the two major scavenger receptors, ScR-A and CD36, were deficient or blocked. These results indicate that CD36 in macrophages plays an important role in foam cell formation by Ox-LDL, while additional scavenger receptor(s) may take part in significant pathways of Ox-LDL uptake in macrophages.