Bovine aortic endothelial cells display macrophage-like properties towards acetylated 125I-labelled low density lipoprotein.

Bovine aortic endothelial cells in culture were shown to take up and degrade acetylated 125I-labelled low density lipoproteins (125I-acetylated LDL) in preference to 125I-labelled low density lipoproteins (LDL). The confluent cultures of endothelial cells had a higher rate of degradation of 125I-acetylated LDL than did subconfluent cells. The ratio of degradation of 125I-acetylated LDL to 125I-LDL was 3--9 in the case of the endothelial cells, 0.06--0.11 for aortic smooth muscle cells and 18 for mouse peritoneal macrophages. The uptake and degradation of acetylated LDL by the endothelial cells was accompanied also by an increase in cellular cholesterol. The present findings indicate that cultured endothelial cells display certain macrophage-like properties towards serum lipoproteins.