LYSOLECITHIN ACTIONS ON VASCULAR SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELLS

Oxidation of low density lipoprotein increases its atherogenic potential. During oxidation there is an extensive conversion of lecithin to lysolecithin. In rat aortic smooth muscle cells, 2-25 μg/ml lysolecithin elevated cytosolic calcium concentration up to 560%. Lysolecithin (10-20 μg/ml) increased [3H]thymidine incorporation from 15 cpm/mg cell protein (controls) up to 189 cpm/mg cell protein. Lysolecithin (10 μg/ml) potentiated the PDGF-induced (50 ng/ml) [3H]thymidine incorporation up to 6.3 times. The results indicate that lysolecithin could induce mechanisms, by which oxydized low density lipoproteins could promote cell growth and thus contribute to atherosclerosis. © 1992.