Identification Of Scavenger Receptor Sr-Bi In The Endothelial Cells And The Smooth Muscle Cells Of Rat Aorta In Vitro

Abstract

The class B ,type I scavenger receptor (SR-BI) was the first molecularly well defined cell surface receptor which binds HDL and mediates the selective uptake of HDL cholesteryl ester. It is expressed primarily in liver and steroidogenic tissues. However, the recent studies also suggested a potentially important role of SR-BI in the initial steps of cholesterol efflux in the peripheral tissues. In this study, we have used immunoblotting and immunofluorescence microscopy to study the expression and subcellular localization of SR-BI in the cultured endothelial cells and the smooth muscle cells of rat aorta.A peptide containing residues 495 to 509 from mSR-BI plus an NH2-terminal cysteine was coupled to hemocyanin. Then the peptide was used to generate mSR-BI495 antiserum in New Zealand white rabbits. The cells from the aortic ring of 1-month-old Spraque-Dawly rats were grown in the dishes containing complete medium (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with 10% fetal bovine serum) and incubated at 37°C in 95% air/ 10 % CO2 atmosphere for 3-4 days.