[Decrease in the lipid content of human atherosclerotic aorta cells as affected by compounds increasing the...

A study was made of the effect of cholera toxin, an adenylate cyclase activator, and methylisobutylxanthine, an inhibitor of cAMP phosphodiesterase, on the content of main class lipids in intimal cells isolated from unaffected and atherosclerotic areas of the human aorta in primary culture. Both the agents did not change the content of lipids in the cells obtained from the normal intima. Cholera toxin and methylisobutylxanthine decreased the levels of cholesterol esters and triglycerides in the cells isolated from fatty layers and atherosclerotic patches. The agents under study did not produce any influence on the levels of phospholipids and free cholesterol in all cases investigated. It is assumed that compounds that increase intracellular cAMP may contribute to lipoidosis diminution in vivo.