介导巨噬细胞摄取氧化修饰极低密试脂蛋白的受体

用未标记氧化修饰极低密度脂蛋白（ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ）、ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ、乙酰ＬＤＬ竞争＾１２５Ｉ－ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ与巨噬细胞的结合。在浓度为２００μｇ蛋白／ｍｌ时,分别抑制标记ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ结合量的７０￣７８％、６０￣７０％和２５￣３５％。用未标记ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ竞争＾１２５Ｉ－ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ与巨噬细胞的结合,能抑制７７％。结果说明ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ主要通过ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ受体进入巨噬细胞。以ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ与ｏｘ－ＬＤ     

巨噬细胞新型氧化低密度脂蛋白结合蛋白的研究

小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞（ＭＰＭ）膜上存在能结合氧化低密度脂蛋白（ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ）的Ａ类清道夫受体（ＳＲ－Ａ）,但用配体印迹技术研究制备ＭＰＭ膜蛋白,发现还存在一种新型ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ膜结合蛋白,其分子量低于ＳＲ－Ａ,为９２ｋＤ它不结合乙酰化低密度脂蛋白ａｃ－ＬＤＬ）,与配体的结合也不受还原剂的影响,但唾液酸酶处理则明显减弱其与ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ的结合,未标记ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ能竞争性抑制（＾１２５Ｉ）ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ与９２ｋ     

氧化修饰极低密度脂蛋白增强其致动脉粥样硬化作用

研究了氧化修饰极低密度脂蛋白（ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ）对小白鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内脂质堆积作用及其机制。经Ｃｕ~（２＋）修饰后ＶＬＤＬ的电泳迁移率及脂质过氧化物含量均显著增加。ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ更易导致小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内脂质堆积。以相同浓度（３００μｇＴＧ／ｍＬ）或不同浓度（２００─５００μｇＴＧ／ｍＬ）的ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ及正常ＶＬＤＬ（ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ）与巨噬细胞温育２４ｈ,前者使巨噬细胞内ＴＧ堆积均比后者显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）。同时,随ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ的脂质过氧化物含量（ＴＢＡＲＳ水平）增加,巨噬细胞内ＴＧ含量的百分率相应增加。以５０μｇ蛋白／ｍＬ的ｎ－ＬＤＬ,ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ,ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ及ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ与巨噬细胞温育６０ｈ。细胞内ＣＥ堆积中氧化组均比正常组高（Ｐ＜０．０１）。巨噬细胞对~（１２５）Ｉ－ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ与~（１２５）Ｉ－ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ的结合、降曲线均有饱和趋势。两结合曲线无明显差异,但细胞对后者降解的量比前者多。结合的竞争实验表明,ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ能抑制大部分~（１２５）Ｉ－ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ与细胞结合,而Ａｃ－ＬＤＬ只能抑制小部分。结果表明ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ主要通过受体途径：大部分经过ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ受体,小部分经过清道夫受体被巨噬细胞摄     

介导巨噬细胞摄取氧化修饰极低密度脂蛋白的受体

用未标记氧化修饰极低密度脂蛋白（ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ）、ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ、乙酰ＬＤＬ竞争１２５Ｉ－ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ与巨噬细胞的结合。在浓度为２００μｇ蛋白／ｍｌ时,分别抑制标记ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ结合量的７０～７８％、６０～７０％和２５～３５％。用未标记ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ竟争１２５Ｉ－ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ与巨噬细胞的结合,能抑制７７％。结果说明ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ主要通过ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ受体进入巨噬细胞。以ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ与ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ进行交叉竞争时,ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ与ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ自身可抑制标记ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ或ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ的７５～８２％,而ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ或ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ的交叉竞争仅３８～４０％。表明ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ与ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ有部分共同的构象与巨噬细胞的脂蛋白受体结合,但ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ不是经ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ受体被巨噬细胞摄取。     

氧化HDL_2在大鼠肝窦状隙细胞内代谢

大鼠肝窦状隙细胞培养结果显示：氧化高密度脂蛋白２（ｏｘ－ＨＤＬ２）对异硫氰酸荧光素（ＦＩＴＣ）荧光标记ｏｘ－ＨＤＬ２的细胞结合有竞争抑制作用,而ＨＤＬ２则无。细胞内吞ＦＩＴＣ－ｏｘ－ＨＤＬ２的荧光强度（ＦＳ）和［３Ｈ］ＣＥ－ｏｘ－ＨＤＬ２（ｒ－ｏｘ－ＨＤＬ２）的放射强度分别是内吞ＦＩＴＣ－ＨＤＬ２的４５．５％和ｒＨＤＬ２的６１．４％。内吞ＦＳ主要存在于三氯醋酸（ＴＣＡ）沉淀部分,而放射强度主要存在于ＴＣＡ上清液部分。细胞释放的ＦＳ和放射活性分别是内吞量的６７．７％和１０．９％,且主要存在于ＴＣＡ可沉淀部分。结果提示：（１）大鼠肝窦状隙细胞可能存在着ｏｘ－ＨＤＬ受体,该受体不同于ＨＤＬ受体。（２）ｏｘ－ＨＤＬ２在细胞内代谢方式与ＨＤＬ２相似,均没有经历溶酶体分解途径。在细胞内载脂蛋白与胆固醇酯（ＣＥ）组分经历一个解离过程。细胞截留大部分ＣＥ后,将载脂蛋白（Ａｐｏ）与剩余ＣＥ重组成脂蛋白并以逆向胞饮方式释放到胞外。（３）氧化修饰减弱ＨＤＬ２逆向转运胆固醇能力     

[B3—Lys]—胰岛素的研究：受体结合及生物活性

本文用＾１２５Ｉ－［Ｂ３－Ｌｙｓ］－胰岛素和＾１２５Ｉ－胰岛素研究了［Ｂ３－Ｌｙｓ］－胰岛素和胰岛素与人胎盘细胞膜胰岛素受体结合物性并进行了比较。实验结果表明［Ｂ３－Ｌｙｓ］－胰岛素与ＨＰＭ胰岛素受体结合能力比天然猪胰岛素高。由竞争取代曲线得到的［Ｂ３－Ｌｙｓ］－胰岛素和猪胰岛素的ＩＣ（５０）值分另为０．６５和１．１１ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ。经Ｓｃａｔｃｈａｒｄ分别得出［Ｂ３－Ｌｙｓ］－胰岛素与ＨＰＭ胰岛素     

天然及氧化修饰脂蛋白对人动脉平滑肌细胞原癌基因表达的影响

动脉平滑肌细胞（ＳＭＣ）的增殖在动脉粥样硬化（ＡＳ）的形成过程中极其重要。我们在建立人主动脉ＳＭＣ体外培养方法的基础上,观察了ＬＤＬ,ＶＬＤＬ及ＨＤＬ和相应的氧化修饰型脂蛋白对培养人ＳＭＣｓｉｓ,ｊｕｎ,Ｈ－ｒａｓ原癌基因及Ｒｂ抗癌基因转录表达的影响。结果表明：（１）ＨＤＬ对ＳＭＣｓｉｓ,ｊｕｎ,ｒａｓ基因表达无影响;（２）ＬＤＬ和ＶＬＤＬ有使这些基因表达增加的趋势;（３）ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ,ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ和ｏｘ－ＨＤＬ具有使ＳＭＣｓｉｓ,ｊｕｎ,和ｒａｓ基因表达显著增强的作用（Ｐ＜０．０１）,且其作用较相应的天然脂蛋白大（Ｐ＜０．０１）;（４）天然和氧化修饰型脂蛋白对Ｒｂ基因表达均无影响。据上述结果推测：ＬＤＬ,ＶＬＤＬ,ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ,ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ和ｏｘ－ＨＤＬ的致ＡＳ作用可能与刺激ＳＭＣｓｉｓ,ｊｕｎ和ｒａｓ原癌基因表达增加有关。     

I型胶原对巨噬细胞摄取氧化低密度脂蛋白的作用

为探讨胶原的存在对细胞摄取氧化低密度脂蛋白（ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ）的影响,本研究在体外制成Ｉ型胶原凝胶和巨噬细胞实验体系,ＬＤＬ经Ｃｕ＾２＋催化氧化,丙二醛（ＭＤＡ）及乙酰化修饰后,与胶原的结合能力明显增强,但４－羟基壬烯醛（ＨＮＥ）修饰的ＬＤＬ与胶原的结合能力反应不如天然ＬＤＬ。当小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞培养在胶原凝胶上时,其对ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ的摄取明显减少,这时大部分ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ为胶原凝胶所结合,如用细胞松弛素Ｄ     

衣霉素对胰岛素受体结合胰岛素及内吞作用的影响

本文研究了人肝癌细胞ＳＭＭＣ－７７２１的胰岛素受体与＾１２５Ｉ－胰岛素结合的条件,并比较了衣霉素处理和对照细胞的结合动力学和内吞作用。结果表明：４℃和ＰＨ８是研究胰岛素受体与配体结合的较佳条件,当０．１ｕｇ／ｍｌ衣霉素处理１８小时,Ｓｃａｔｓｈａｒｄ作图分析指出,胰岛素受体的结合容量降低,每个细胞上的受体位点数减少。Ｈｉｌｌ作图分析说明,胰岛素和受体的亲和力（胰岛素半饱和浓度和表观解离常数）及结合     

天然及氧化修饰脂蛋白对人动脉平滑肌细胞原癌基因…

动脉平滑肌细胞（ＳＭＣ）的增殖在动脉粥样硬化（ＡＳ）的形成过程中极其重要。我们在建立人主动脉ＳＭＣ体外培养方法的基础上,观察了ＬＤＬ,ＶＬＤＬ及ＨＤＬ和相应的氧化修饰型脂蛋白对培养人ＳＭＣ ｓｉｓ,ｊｕｎ,Ｈ－ｒａｓ原癌基因及Ｒｂ抗癌基因转录表达的影响。结果表明：（１）ＨＤＬ对ＳＭＣｓｉｓ,ｊｕｎ,ｒａｓ基因表达无影响;（２）ＬＤＬ和ＶＬＤＬ有使这些基因表达增加的趋势;（３）ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ,ｏｘ－Ｖ     

Internalization and degradation of receptor bound C-reactive protein by U-937 cells: induction of H2O2 production and tumoricidal activity

The presence of a membrane receptor for C-reactive protein (CRP-R) on the human monocytic cell line U-937 was the basis for determining the metabolic fate of the receptor-bound ligand and the functional response of the cells to CRP. Internalized [125I]CRP was measured by removing cell surface-bound [125I]CRP with pronase. Warming cells to 37 degrees C resulted in the internalization of approx. 50% of the receptor-bound [125I]CRP or receptor-bound [125I]CRP-PC-KLH complexes. U-937 cells degraded about 25% of the internalized [125I]CRP into TCA-soluble radiolabeled products. The lysosomotrophic agents (chloroquine, NH4Cl) greatly decreased the extent of CRP degradation without altering binding or internalization. In addition, a pH less than 4.0 resulted in dissociation of receptor-bound [125I]CRP. Treatment of U-937 cell with monensin, a carboxylic ionophore which prevents receptor recycling, resulted in accumulation of internalized [125I]CRP. Therefore, it appears that the CRP-R complex is internalized into an endosomal compartment where the CRP is uncoupled from its receptor and subsequently degraded. CRP initiated the differentiation of the U-937 cells so that they acquired the ability to produce H2O2 and also display in vitro tumoricidal activity. The results support the concept that internalization and degradation of CRP leads to the activation of monocytes during inflammation.     

Biochemical and morphological effects of gentamicin in human proximal tubular cells: effects on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism

The effects of gentamicin, an antibiotic used extensively for antimicrobial therapy on the ultrastructure, binding, internalization, degradation, and cholesterol esterification of low-density lipoproteins, were investigated in cultured human proximal tubular cells. Cells were incubated with 0.3 mM gentamicin for 21 days with the following observations. Cells treated with gentamicin contained numerous "myeloid bodies." The binding, internalization, and degradation of 125I-labeled low-density lipoproteins ([125I]LDL) in cells treated with gentamicin was twofold lower than control cells. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that gentamicin did not impair the internalization of receptor-bound LDL and their subsequent transport to the lysosome. The relative amounts of [125I]LDL displaced by increasing concentrations of unlabeled LDL were the same in both gentamicin-treated and control cells. This pattern was reflected in the cell surface binding, internalization, and degradation of [125I]LDL. Gentamicin did not alter the degradation of [125I]LDL in cell homogenates at 4.0. The data suggest that gentamicin decreases the receptor-mediated endocytosis of LDL and subsequent lipid metabolism.     

Phospholipids in oxidized LDL not adducted to apoB are recognized by the CD36 scavenger receptor

Previous studies have shown that oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) results in its recognition by scavenger receptors on macrophages. Whereas blockage of lysyl residues on apoB-100 of oxLDL by lipid peroxidation products appears to be critical for recognition by the scavenger receptor class A (SR-A), modification of the lipid moiety has been suggested to be responsible for recognition by the scavenger class B receptor, CD36. We studied the recognition by scavenger receptors of oxidized LDL in which lysyl residues are blocked prior to oxidation through methylation [ox(m)LDL]. This permits us to minimize any contribution of modified apoB-100 to the recognition of oxLDL, but does not disrupt the native configuration of lipids in the particle. We found that ox(m)LDL was recognized by receptors on mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM) almost as well as oxLDL. Ox(m)LDL was recognized by CD36-transfected cells but not by SR-A-transfected cells. Oxidized phospholipids (oxPC) transferred from oxLDL or directly from oxPC to LDL, conveyed recognition by CD36-transfected cells, confirming that CD36 recognized unbound oxidized phospholipids in ox(m)LDL. Collectively, these results suggest that oxPC not adducted to apoB within the intact oxLDL particle are recognized by the macrophage scavenger receptor CD36, that these lipids are not recognized by SR-A, and that they can transfer from oxidized to unoxidized LDL and induce CD36 recognition.     

氧化修饰LDL诱导U937细胞凋亡及其机制探讨

用氧化修饰低密度脂蛋白（ox-LDL）诱导人髓系白血病细胞株U937细胞凋亡,并研究其作用机制.用脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导的dUTP切口末端标记技术(TUNEL法)、流式细胞仪和DNA断裂分析检测细胞凋亡;用免疫组化检测c-fos、c-jun和c-myc蛋白表达,RT-PCR显示c-fos、c-jun和c-myc mRNA表达水平.结果表明ox-LDL可致U937细胞凋亡,其作用具有浓度效应;ox-LDL可以上调c-fos、c-jun和c-myc基因表达,使c-fos、c-jun和c-myc蛋白合成增多,最终诱导U937细胞凋亡.     

Plasma membrane and intracellular pools of transferrin receptors decline during in vitro cultivation of U937 cells

Transferrin receptor expression in the monocyte-like cell line U937 was investigated during in vitro cultivation. U937 cells expressed a single class of high affinity surface transferrin receptors (KD approximately 4 nM), with apparent subunit Mr of 90-95,000 Da as determined by SDS-reducing PAGE. [125I]-transferrin binding studies on detergent-solubilized cells revealed that half to two-thirds of the total functional binding sites were located intracellularly. Radioligand binding, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry studies were performed on intact, detergent-solubilized, or saponin-permeabilized cells, using either transferrin or the anti-transferrin receptor monoclonal antibody OKT9 IgG. These studies demonstrated that functional and antigenic transferrin receptor levels were maximal on cells 24 h after subculture at low density and declined during the culture period. Scatchard analysis of radioligand binding data suggested that the decline in functional transferrin binding sites resulted from a decline in the number of available receptors. These results demonstrate that in U937 cells there is a density-dependent regulation of transferrin receptor expression, resulting in a loss of functional and antigenic receptors from both plasma membrane and intracellular locations.     

Opposite effect of caveolin-1 in the metabolism of high-density and low-density lipoproteins

Receptors of the scavenger class B family were reported to be localized in caveolae, the cell surface microdomains rich in free cholesterol and glycosphyngolipids, which are characterized by the presence of caveolin-1. Parenchymal hepatic and hepatoma HepG2 cells express very low levels of caveolin-1. In the present study, stable transformants of HepG2 cells expressing caveolin-1 were generated to address the effect of caveolin-1 on receptor activity. Compared to normal cells, these cells show higher (125)I-bovine serum albumin (BSA) uptake and cholesterol efflux, two indicators of functional caveolae. By immunoprecipitation, cell fractionation and confocal analyses, we found that caveolin-1 is well colocalized with the cluster of differentiation-36 (CD36) and the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLr) but to a lesser extent with the scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) in HepG2 cells expressing caveolin-1. However, caveolin-1 expression favors the dimerization of SR-BI. Two clones of cells expressing caveolin-1 were investigated for their lipoprotein metabolism activity. Compared to normal cells, these cells show a 71-144% increase in (125)I-LDL degradation. The analysis of the cholesteryl esters (CE)-selective uptake (CE association minus protein association) revealed that the expression of caveolin-1 in HepG2 cells decreases by 59%-73% LDL-CE selective uptake and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-CE selective uptake by 44%-66%. We conclude that the expression of caveolin-1 in HepG2 cells moves the balance of LDL degradation/CE selective uptake towards degradation and favors HDL-CE selective uptake. Thus, in the normal hepatic parenchymal situation where caveolin-1 is poorly expressed, LDL-CE selective uptake is the preferred pathway.     

Influence of collagen gel substratum on response to low-density lipoprotein by cultured human skin fibroblasts

The effect of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) on accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) was compared in cultures of human skin fibroblasts on a conventional plastic substratum and in a native type I collagen gel. The 24-h incorporation of [3H]glucosamine and Na2(35)SO4 into GAG secreted into the medium or associated with the substratum and cell surface (SCA) was measured in cells at subconfluent densities. When cells were grown on plastic, 13-25% of the labeled GAG was in the SCA pool. Cells cultured within a collagen gel matrix incorporated three times more [3H]glucosamine and up to five times more [35S]sulfate into this pool. The addition of LDL (300 micrograms protein/mL) to the medium increased the level of total GAG incorporation of [3H]glucosamine by 40-50% and of [35S]sulfate by 15-20% on both substrata. For cells on plastic the relative increase in the medium and SCA pool was similar, whereas for cells in collagen gel the response to LDL was twice as great in the SCA pool as in the medium. The distribution of GAG types was unaffected by LDL; hyaluronic acid remained the principal GAG in the media pools of both substrata, heparan sulfate remained the main SCA GAG in cultures on plastic, and dermatan sulfate remained the dominant GAG in the SCA pool of collagen gel cultures. LDL degradation was measured at intervals up to 48 h after the addition of 125I-labeled LDL. The rate of accumulation of degraded LDL products was lower in collagen gel cultures, but the final levels achieved were the same in the two substrata. Concentrations of total cell cholesterol were similar, although the increases in free cholesterol induced by LDL were 26% greater in cells within collagen gel than in those on plastic. We conclude that fibroblasts grown within a collagen gel, as compared with those on a plastic substratum, (i) accumulate more GAG that remain attached to the substratum and cell surface; (ii) respond to LDL with a similar degree of increase in GAG accumulation, but more of the increase is found in the substratum and cell surface compartment; and (iii) accumulate more intracellular free cholesterol in response to LDL.     

Activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters in human macrophages reduces the metabolism of modified LDL by down-regulation of scavenger receptor activity

Atherogenesis and inflammation are dependent on macrophage function. Signalling pathways are involved in the modulation of the classical low density lipopotein (LDL)-receptor and scavenger receptors activities, which are both expressed by macrophages. This study has evaluated the role of activation of the protein kinase A and C pathways in human macrophages on the metabolism of lipid carried by native, acetylated and oxidised LDL. We found that [3H]oleate incorporation into cholesteryl ester and triacylglycerol is increased by an analogue of cAMP, but strongly inhibited by treatment with phorbol ester (PMA) (100 nM, 6 h) in the presence of acLDL and oxLDL and, to a lesser extent, nLDL. The mechanisms underlying the effects of the phorbol ester were investigated further. The protein kinase C inhibitors, calphostin C and herbimycin A, prevented the PMA-mediated inhibition of cholesterol esterification. PMA also reduced [14C]acetate incorporation into newly synthesised lipids especially in the presence of nLDL, and reduced the uptake of cholesterol carried by modified LDL. Furthermore, the effects of PMA were not modified by inhibition of proteases activities, ruling out the hypothesis that CD163, a scavenger receptor which is shed by the cell surface in the presence of phorbol, is involved in the phorbol-induced reduction of cholesterol accumulation in macrophages in response to LDL. We conclude that binding of modified LDL to macrophages induces an appropriate pattern of scavenger receptor phosphorylation which, in turn, determines the optimal receptor internalisation process. PMA activates PKC pathways and prevents the optimal ligand-induced phosphorylation of the receptors, compromising the processes of degradation of modified LDL. The data also suggest that this mechanism may be related to the decreased uptake by activated macrophages of lipid carried by modified lipoproteins during the early phases of inflammation (284).     

Stimulation of LDL receptor activity in Hep-G2 cells by a serum factor(s)

The regulation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor activity in the human hepatoma cell line Hep-G2 by serum components was examined. Incubation of dense monolayers of Hep-G2 cells with fresh medium containing 10% fetal calf serum (FM) produced a time-dependent increase in LDL receptor activity. Uptake and degradation of 125I-LDL was stimulated two- to four-fold, as compared with that of Hep-G2 cells cultured in the same media in which they had been grown to confluence (CM); the maximal 125I-LDL uptake plus degradation increased from 0.2 microgram/mg cell protein/4 h to 0.8 microgram/mg cell protein/4 h. In addition, a two-fold increase in cell surface binding of 125I-LDL to Hep-G2 cells was observed when binding was measured at 4 degrees C. There was no change in the "apparent" Kd. The stimulation of LDL receptor activity was suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner by the addition of cholesterol, as LDL, to the cell medium. In contrast to the stimulation of LDL receptor activity, FM did not affect the uptake or degradation of 125I-asialoorosomucoid. Addition of FM increased the protein content per dish, and DNA synthesis was stimulated approximately five-fold, as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA; however, the cell number did not change. Cellular cholesterol biosynthesis was also stimulated by FM; [14C]acetate incorporation into unesterified and esterified cholesterol was increased approximately five-fold. Incubation of Hep-G2 cells with high-density lipoproteins (200 micrograms protein/ml) or albumin (8.0 mg/ml) in the absence of the serum factor did not significantly increase the total processed 125I-LDL. Stimulation of LDL receptor activity was dependent on a heat-stable, nondialyzable serum component that eluted in the inclusion volume of a Sephadex G-75 column. Uptake of 125I-LDL by confluent monolayers of human skin fibroblasts was not changed by incubation with FM or by incubation with Hep-G2 conditioned medium. Taken together, these data demonstrate that LDL receptor activity in Hep-G2 cells is stimulated by a serum component. Furthermore, this serum factor shows some specificity for the LDL receptor pathway in liver-derived Hep-G2 cells.