Very low density lipoprotein hematopoiesis inhibitor from rat plasma

Although the stimulatory effect of specific glycoproteins on bone marrow cell proliferation is acknowledged, little attention has been directed toward growth inhibitors. In this report we have explored the role of plasma lipoproteins in regulating the proliferation of hematopoietic cells. Lipoproteins were isolated from the plasma of normal rats and rats with cancer by density gradient ultracentrifugation. Lipoprotein fractions were then added to cell cultures to assess their effect on: 1) erythropoietin (Ep) stimulated rat marrow DNA and protein synthesis, 2) Ep and colony stimulating factor induced marrow colony formation (CFU(E), CFU(C)), and 3) phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated lymphocyte DNA synthesis. The results indicated that very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) completely inhibited CFU(E) and CFU(C) formation. VLDL inhibited (> 80%) the synthesis of DNA by marrow cells cultured with Ep and lymphocytes cultured with PHA. VLDL from rats with Walker-256 cancer had a greater inhibitory effect than normal rat VLDL. Chylomicrons had moderate growth inhibitory effect, and plasma LDL and HDL were inactive. VLDL, however, did not inhibit the proliferation of rat fibroblasts. We conclude that physiologic concentrations of plasma VLDL have a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of erythroid, granulocytic and lymphocytic cells. A pathophysiologic role for VLDL in the impairment of erythropoiesis and immune function in cancer is suggested.