Analysis of binding and uptake of native and modified low-density lipoproteins by human liver cells in primary culture

Abstract

The binding and uptake of native low density lipoproteins (LDL) and malondialdehyde treated (MDA) LDL by human hepatocytes in primary culture has been analyzed. Indirect immunofluorescent technique and lipoproteins labeled with fluorescent dye 3.3 dioctadecylindocarbocyanine (Dil) were used. Practically all culture cells have binding sites for native LDL which visualized in a form of separate granules on the cell surface. The binding sites for MDA LDL were found only on some (5%) cells culture that differed from hepatocytes in shape and size. Like other cells of culture hepatocytes internalized native Dil-LDL and acquired brightly specific fluorescence.