Lysophosphatidylcholine, a component of atherogenic lipoproteins, induces mononuclear leukocyte adhesion molecules in cultured human and rabbit arterial endothelial cells

• Published in: The Journal of clinical investigation 1992-09, Vol.90 (3), p.1138-1144
• Main Authors: KUME, N, CYBULSKY, M. I, GIMBRONE, M. A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Arteriosclerosis - etiology; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cell Adhesion - drug effects; Cell Adhesion Molecules - biosynthesis; Cells, Cultured; E-Selectin; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - metabolism; Humans; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Lipoproteins, LDL - pharmacology; Lysophosphatidylcholines - pharmacology; Male; Medical sciences; Phospholipids - pharmacology; Rabbits; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
• ISSN: 0021-9738; 1558-8238
• DOI: 10.1172/jci115932

Accumulation of monocyte-derived foam cells in focal areas of the arterial intima is one of the key events in early atherogenesis. We have examined the effect of lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC; lysolecithin), a major phospholipid component of atherogenic lipoproteins, on the expression of adhesion molecules for monocytes, such as vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), in cultured human and rabbit arterial endothelial cells. Cultured rabbit aortic endothelial cells treated with lyso-PC showed increased mRNA and cell surface expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, which was associated with increased adhesion of monocytes and monocyte-like cells (THP-1, U937). In cultured human iliac artery endothelial cells, lyso-PC similarly induced both VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, whereas in umbilical vein endothelial cells only ICAM-1 was up-regulated. In all endothelial cells examined, the effect of lyso-PC on E-selectin (endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1) expression was negligible, thus differentiating this stimulus from other endothelial activators, such as interleukin 1, tumor necrosis factor, or lipopolysaccharide. We conclude that lyso-PC can selectively induce VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in arterial endothelial cells and that this action, in addition to its monocyte chemoattractant activity, may play an important role in monocyte recruitment into atherosclerotic lesions.