Inhibition of thymidine transport by low density lipoprotein and its lipid components

We previously showed that low density lipoprotein (LDL) induces an early decrease in the thymidine-transport rate and subsequently inhibits cell proliferation. We now have demonstrated that a dose-dependent decrease in the rate of thymidine transport was found in all the cell lines examined irrespective of their sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of LDL on cell growth. Thus, inhibition of both transport and cell growth by LDL are not necessarily coupled. In contrast, 3-O-methyl-D-glucose transport was not affected by an addition of LDL. The specific inhibition of transport was not suppressed by an addition of chloroquine. Thus, degradation of LDL within the lysosome was not required for LDL to inhibit thymidine transport. A mixture of lipids extracted from LDL was as inhibitory as LDL in the various types of cells examined. Calf serum also prevented the inhibitory effect of both LDL and its lipid constituents equally. Phosphatidylcholine produced no decrease in thymidine transport, but cholesterol inhibited it. We concluded that LDL-associated lipids, particularly cholesterol, play an essential role in the LDL-induced decrease of transport.