Overexpression of the CXCL3 gene in response to oxidized low-density lipoprotein is associated with the presence of tendon xanthomas in familial hypercholesterolemia.

To examine if overexpression of certain chemokines and proinflammatory cytokines in response to oxidized low-density lipoprotein could be involved in the onset and development of tendon xanthomas (TX), we quantified IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-8 and compared gene expression of PPAR-gamma, NF-kappaBIA, IL-8, IL-1beta, CXCL3, tryptase, and TNF-alpha in macrophages of familial hypercholesterolemia subjects with and without TX stimulated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein at 1, 3, 6, and 18 h of incubation. We propose that chemokines belonging to the CXC family could play an important role in the etiology of TX, with CXCL3 being a possible biological marker of onset and development of TX.