Effect of HDL on the interaction of hyperlipemic LDL with monkey smooth muscle cells.

The stimulation of the esterification of cholesterol and the subsequent enrichment of cholesterol esters in arterial smooth muscle cells produced by low density lipoproteins (LDL) from hyperlipemic monkeys was altered by the presence of high density lipoproteins (HDL) isolated from normolipemic monkeys. Increasing concentrations of HDL decreased the rate of cellular cholesterol esterification and cholesterol ester accumulation. This was accompanied by a reduction in the cellular uptake of radioiodinated LDL. At physiological levels of lipoproteins, HDL interfered with the interaction of smooth muscle cells and LDL from hyperlipemic serum.