Arterial blood derived low density lipoprotein increases platelet aggregation and macrophage cholesterol content in comparison to lipoprotein derived from veinous blood

Abstract

We studied the biochemical and biological properties of plasma lipoproteins taken from blood derived from either the aorta or femoral vein of patients with normal coronary arteriography. There were no significant differences in concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, apoprotein A-1 and apoprotein B derived from either source. The cholesterol content of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) was similar in both aortic and venous blood. The low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration, however, was significantly higher in the aortic blood sample. Arterial LDL significantly enhanced in vitro platelet aggregation when compared to venous LDL. (p less than 0.02). When incubated with mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM) arterial LDL and VLDL caused an increased cholesterol accumulation and enhanced cholesterol esterification within these macrophages. The venous lipoproteins had little effect. The differences noted in the arterial lipoproteins in composition and biological function when compared to venous lipoproteins might be related to the much higher incidence of atherosclerosis found in the arterial tree.