Squalene ameliorates atherosclerotic lesions through the reduction of CD 36 scavenger receptor expression in macrophages

• Published in: Molecular nutrition & food research Vol. 56; no. 5; pp. 733 - 740
• Main Authors: Granados‐Principal, Sergio, Quiles, Jose L., Ramirez‐Tortosa, Cesar L., Ochoa‐Herrera, Julio, Perez‐Lopez, Patricia, Pulido‐Moran, Mario, Ramirez‐Tortosa, MCarmen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2012
• Subjects: Olea
• ISSN: 1613-4125; 1613-4133
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201100703

Scope Anti‐atherogenic features of olive oil (OO) have been attributed, in part, to minor compounds, via diverse mechanisms, although its effects on the CD 36 receptor have not been examined. We investigated the effects of minor compounds of OO (squalene ( SQ ), tyrosol ( T yr) and hydroxytyrosol ( OH ‐ T yr)), on the expression of the CD 36 receptor, as well as on monocyte/macrophage differentiation and proliferation. Methods and results U 937 monocytic cells and macrophages (obtained with 10 nM phorbol‐myristate‐acetate) were exposed to T yr, OH ‐ T yr or SQ at 0, 10, 75 and 200 μM with/without native or oxidised LDL (ox LDL ). Flow cytometry was used to achieve the expression of CD 36 in both cell types exposed to ox LDL plus antioxidants, as well as the inhibition of monocyte/macrophage differentiation after ox LDL and apoptosis. SQ caused a dose‐dependent reduction of CD 36 in the presence of native and moderate LDL in monocytes and macrophages. Phenotype‐dependent cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects were found for OH ‐ T yr ( p < 0.05), while SQ affected neither monocytes nor macrophages ( p < 0.01). Conclusion SQ does not prevent monocyte migration and activation into macrophages, but it would inhibit ox LDL uptake by macrophages, by reducing CD 36 expression. This study provides new data about the role of the components of OO in the prevention of atherosclerosis.