Infliximab Reverses Suppression of Cholesterol Efflux Proteins by TNF-α: A Possible Mechanism for Modulation of Atherogenesis
Figure 4
TNF-α represses net cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophages. Net cholesterol efflux to HDL [100 μg/mL] is reduced in the presence of TNF-α, increasing intracellular total cholesterol mass and amount of cholesterol esters (CE) in THP-1 macrophages (a). Simultaneously extracellular cholesterol is reduced upon exposure to TNF-α (b). TNF-α exposed cells display an increase in the intracellular ratio of CE/FC versus control cells (c). The presence of infliximab abolishes the effect of TNF-α on cholesterol efflux, decreasing the CE/FC ratio and maintaining efflux similar to control cells. Values are mean of three independent experiments. *, versus control cells; #, versus TNF-α treated cells.
