The effect of bezafibrate and clofibrate on cholesterol ester metabolism in 3T3 cells and smooth muscle cells in tissue culture

Abstract

The effect of bezafibrate and clofibrate on the accumulation and removal of cholesterol ester and on the incorporation, esterification, and removal of 14C-labeled cholesterol by both 3T3 cells and pig aortic smooth muscle cells stimulated with cationized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been studied. Bezafibrate at 100 μg/ml reduced the accumulation of cholesterol ester in both cell types. The uptake and esterification of 14C-labeled cholesterol into cholesterol ester was also reduced by bezafibrate at this concentration. 14C-labeled cholesterol ester was removed from the cells following its hydrolysis and appeared in the incubation medium as 14C-labeled free cholesterol. This process was accelerated by bezafibrate and clofibrate in both cell types.