Abstract
1) Atherosclerotic aortic intimas of cholesterol-fed rabbits were enzymatically dispersed into single cells by collagenase and elastase. And macrophages were separated from smooth muscle cells, using the ability of Mφ to adhere to a plastic dish firmly even in the enzyme solutions.
(2) Macrophage-derived foam cells (Mφ-FC) showed very strong activity for non-specific esterase by α-naphthyl butyrate, while smooth muscle cells showed little or no activity. This method will be useful to estimate the purity of the separated Mφ-FC.
(3) Some of the Mφ-FC were large and multinucleated (we call them giant multinucleated foam cells).
4) Mφ-FC produced various prostanoids into the medium (PGE2>6-keto PGF1α>TXB2>PGF2α).
5) Mφ-FC did not proliferate in DMEM+10% FCS. They gradually died and the number of cells decreased.
6) Almost no Mφ-FC were obtained from the intima-medias of grossly normal portions of atherosclerotic aortas and control aortas.
(7) This method of separating Mφ-FC from atherosclerotic lesions will be useful for studying the role of Mφ in atherosclerosis.
