Expression of CD147 on phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-treated U937 cells differentiating into foam cells.

Monocytes, macrophages, and foam cells expressing CD147 can stimulate the production of several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) associated with the development of atherosclerosis. We defined theCD147 expression profile and examined the correlation between foam cell development and MMP-2, -9 expressions. Foam cells were derived from U937-stimulated macrophages using various concentrations of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). PMA-stimulated U937 cells had a 4- to 5-fold increase in CD147 mRNA compared to undifferentiated monocytes and membrane-associated (mCD147) on foam cells decreased in response to ox-LDL in a dose-dependent manner compared to untreated macrophages.In contrast, ox-LDL treatment increased the levels of soluble CD147 (sCD147) and MMP-2, -9 in a dose-dependent manner. Our data suggested that monocyte differentiation up-regulated CD147 expression and lipid enrichment of foam cells had no effect on CD147 mRNA expression. Lipid loading in macrophages reduced mCD147 expression while increasing the levels of MMP-2, -9 and sCD147 in supernatants.