Figure 6

Lipid synthesis and efflux in PBMCs with different ORO scores. Freshly isolated PBMCs (four for each ORO score group) were plated at a density of 10,000 cell/cm² in six well plates and incubated with PHA for the time periods indicated. Total cellular lipid synthesis (A) and cholesterol ester synthesis (B) were evaluated by incubating cells for six hours in medium containing [¹⁴C]acetate at a final concentration of 2 μCi/ml. After incubation, cells were washed with PBS and lipids extracted with acetone. Lipid subclasses were separated out by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and [¹⁴C]acetate incorporation into the various lipid fractions was measured. Efflux (C) from the cells into the medium at each time point was expressed as the percentage of radioactivity in medium/total radioactivity (cells + medium). Data shown are the mean ± SE of four subjects from each score group, *P < 0.05.