Macrophage uptake of oxidized and acetylated low-density lipoproteins and generation of reactive oxygen species are regulated by linear stiffness of the growth surface.

ABSTRACT: Macrophages are key players in the development of atherosclerosis: they scavenge lipid, transform into foam cells, and produce proinflammatory mediators. At the same time, the arterial wall undergoes profound changes in its mechanical properties. We recently showed that macrophage morphology and proinflammatory potential are regulated by the linear stiffness of the growth surface. Here we asked whether linear stiffness also regulates lipid uptake by macrophages. We cultured murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) on polyacrylamide gels modeling stiffness of healthy (1kPa) and diseased (10-150kPa) blood vessels. In unprimed BMMs, increased linear stiffness increased uptake of oxidized (oxLDL) and acetylated (acLDL) low density lipoproteins and generation of reactive oxygen species, bu

SUBMITTER: Gruber EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8675690 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature