OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of ox-LDL on monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

METHODSDCs were derived from healthy donors and divided into four groups according to the method of stimulation. The cells of blank group, negative group, experimental group and positive group which were treated with PBS, LDL, ox-LDL, TNF-alpha, individually. ox-LDL was added during the late stage of monocyte differentiation. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell surface markers and the endocytoses of DCs. (3)H-TdR incorporation was used to measure the proliferation of syngeneic and allogeneic T cells. ELISA assay was used to measure IL-12, MCP-1and MIP1 in cultured medium. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the content of IkappaBalpha and NF-kappaB of DCs.

RESULTSAddition of ox-LDL during the late stage of monocytes differentiation can upregulate the cell surface markers including CD40 (22.3% vs. 45.6%) and CD86 (25.9% vs. 82.4%), increase the secretion of IL-12 (31.43 pg/ml vs. 126.73 pg/ml) and MCP-1 (59.6 ng/ml vs. 116.3 ng/ml), reduce DCs uptake capacity (46.8% vs. 10.7%), enhance allogeneic T cells proliferation (SI: 4.5 vs. 5.7), promote IkappaBalpha degradation and upregulate the expression of NF-kappaB in DCs.

CONCLUSIONox-LDL can promote the maturation of PBMCs-derived DCs by promoting IkappaBalpha degradation.