N-acetyl cysteine suppresses the foam cell formation that is induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein via regulation of gene expression

Ho Joong Sung, Jeonghan Kim, Yoonseo Kim, Sung Wuk Jang, Jesang Ko

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Abstract Foam cells derived from macrophages have been implicated as markers of early stage atherosclerosis development. In this study, we found that N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a well-known inhibitor of reactive oxygen species (ROS), decreased the generation of ROS and suppressed foam cell formation in the presence of oxidized low density lipoprotein through down-regulation of cluster of differentiation 36 expression. We investigated gene expression profiles in order to determine the effects of NAC on foam cell formation using a microarray analysis. The level of apolipoprotein E, which is involved in lipid efflux, was increased and the levels of the antioxidant genes glutathione peroxidase 1 and 3 were also increased. The expression levels of the oxidative stress response and the DNA repair genes were decreased. These results were confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR. Our results indicate that oxidative stress plays an important role in foam cell formation, and that regulation of oxidation using antioxidants is a potential therapeutic method for blocking atherosclerosis development.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3001-3007
Number of pages7
JournalMolecular biology reports
Volume39
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012 Mar

Keywords

  • Atherosclerosis
  • Foam cell
  • N-acetyl cysteine
  • Reactive oxygen species

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

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