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. 1971 Nov 30;134(6):1545–1569. doi: 10.1084/jem.134.6.1545

CHOLESTEROL METABOLISM IN THE MACROPHAGE

I. THE REGULATION OF CHOLESTEROL EXCHANGE

Zena Werb 1, Zanvil A Cohn 1
PMCID: PMC2139099  PMID: 5126640

Abstract

The cholesterol metabolism of homogeneous populations of mouse peritoneal macrophages was evaluated under in vitro conditions. Macrophages are rich in free cholesterol and maintain a constant cholesterol to protein ratio (12 µg cholesterol/mg protein). No detectable cholesterol ester was present within the cell. More than 95% of total cholesterol was membrane associated and the majority was present in subcellular fractions containing lysosomes and plasma membrane. Less than 0.1% of cell cholesterol was synthesized from acetate-1-14C. During in vitro cultivation, macrophages rapidly exchanged their membrane cholesterol with that of lipoproteins of calf serum. About 30% of the cell cholesterol was exchanged per hour in 20% serum medium, and exchange was nearly complete by 5 hr. Exchange proceeded in a rapid exponential phase followed by a slower phase. Calculations based on a two compartment model indicated that the rapidly exchanging cholesterol compartment represented 60–70% of the total cell cholesterol, and the slowly exchanging compartment accounted for 30–40%. The relationship between serum lipoprotein concentration and exchange rate exhibited first-order kinetics. The rate was determined by thermal energy, in keeping with a Q 10 of 2, and an activation energy of 12 kcal/mole. Exchange was independent of bulk transport of lipoproteins by pinocytosis and phagocytosis, and was not linked to energy metabolism. The α-lipoproteins were the major class of proteins of calf serum participating in exchange.

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Selected References

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