Effects of human low‐density lipoproteins on the nucleotide patterns of cultured pig aortic endothelial cells

Cultured pig aortic endothelial cells display significant changes in their nucleotide patterns after incubation with LDL-cholesterol purified from normal human plasma as determined by HPLC. Incubation at 70 mg/dl LDL-cholesterol for 24 h at 37°C caused a significant decrease (P<0.001) in ATP from a control value of 14.0±0.4 nmol/mg protein to 6.6±0.9 nmol/mg protein (n=4) with a concomitant increase in ADP and AMP. At higher LDL concentrations these effects were even more pronounced but still reversible. Akin to adenine nucleotides, the guanosine and uridine phosphates as determined by HPLC were changed. In contrast to LDL, HDL and VLDL were ineffectual.