Minami M, Kume N, Shimaoka T, Kataoka H, Hayashida K, Yonehara S, Kita T
Departments of Geriatric Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2001 Dec;947:373-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2001.tb03966.x.
Recently, we identified a novel macrophage cell-surface receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), designated SR-PSOX (scavenger receptor for phosphatidylserine and oxidized lipoprotein). Here we examine SR-PSOX expression in human atherosclerotic lesions using carotid endarterectomy specimens from 21 patients, directional coronary atherectomy specimens from 11 patients, and normal aortas from 2 patients. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that SR-PSOX expression was upregulated in atherosclerotic lesions, but undetectable in normal aortas. Immunohistochemistry showed that SR-PSOX was abundantly expressed by macrophages in the intima of atherosclerotic lesions. Taken together, SR-PSOX may be involved in Ox-LDL uptake and subsequent foam cell transformation in macrophages in vivo and therefore may play important roles in human atherosclerotic lesion formation.
