Nifedipine inhibits ox-LDL-induced lipid accumulation in human blood-derived macrophages.

In this study, we examined the effects of nifedipine on some ox-LDL-associated changes in human blood-derived macrophages. We isolated monocytes from normal human blood and differentiated them into macrophages. We then treated these human macrophages with ox-LDL and/or nifedipine, and examined lipid accumulation and expression levels of two scavenge receptors CD36 and SR-A as well as a protein kinase PKC-θ. Nifedipine treatment substantially reduced lipid accumulation and the expression of CD36, SR-A, and protein kinase C (PKC)-θ in human macrophages treated with ox-LDL. Silencing of PKC-θ using siRNA also reduced the expression of CD36 and SR-A in these cells. Our results thus suggest that nifedipine may inhibit atherosclerosis by reducing ox-LDL-induced lipid deposition through suppression of the CD36/SR-A-mediated uptake of ox-LDL by macrophages via a PKC-θ-dependent mechanism. PMID: 25592969 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Biochemical and Biophysical Research communications - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tags: Biochem Biophys Res Commun Source Type: research