Difference in metabolism of cellular lipids and in mevalonate shunt activity between bovine vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells in culture

N. Savion*, M. Greemland

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The role of plasma lipoproteins in lipid metabolism by bovine vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells in culture was studied using three radiolabelled precursors - acetic acid, oleic acid and mevalonolactone. Confluent cultures of both vascular cells exposed to a serum-free medium incorporated most (> 70%) of the [3H]oleic acid and [14C]acetic acid into phospholipids and a limited amount (< 20%) into cholesterol. [14C]Mevalonolactone was incorporated into cholesterol and phospholipids, 40% and 20% in smooth muscle cells, and 20% and 60% in endothelial cells, respectively, indicating an extensive mevalonate shunt activity in endothelial cells. Exposure of cultures to serum resulted in extensive suppression in the incorporation of all radiolabelled precursors in endothelial cells and in mild suppression in smooth muscle cells. These studies indicate that phospholipids and cholesterol are the major synthesized cellular lipids. Their synthesis and efflux are regulated by plasma lipoproteins and these two processes are higher in endothelial than in smooth muscle cells. The relatively higher accessibility of cholesterol for efflux and the higher conversion of mevalonolactone to phospholipids via the mevalonate shunt in endothelial than in smooth muscle cells may represent better mechanisms of protection against cholesterol accumulation in endothelial than in smooth muscle cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3-9
Number of pages7
JournalBulletin of Molecular Biology and Medicine
Volume20
Issue number1-2
StatePublished - 1995

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