Abstract
Adhesion of blood cells to the vascular endothelium with subsequent migration into the vessel wall or the interstitial space is the initial step characterizing the acute inflammation responses. A significant role for the monocyte-macrophages (Mφ) in atherogenesis is now well accepted. To study this phenomenon we examined the interaction of Mφ with cultured vascular endothelial cells as well as Mφ-derived chemotactic activity of Mφ. The interaction could be modulated by temperature and divalent cations. Pretreatment with LDL and VLDL increased adhesion of Mφ to endothelial cells. Mφ from hypercholesterolemic animals showed enhanced attachment to the endothelial cells; they moved more quickly when examined by time-lapse cinephoto-micrography.
Mφ in culture secreted potent chemotactic factors to Mφ; chemotactic properties of Mφ to the autoconditioned media were remarkably increased when animals were exposed to hypercholesterolemia.
Finally, results obtained by an in vitro model of a blood vessel wall consisting of human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultured on human amnion were briefly described. The methods utilized herein to study atherogenesis would also provide useful and relevant models for in vitro study of inflammation.
