%0 Journal Article %T The effect of ox-LDL and platelets on macrophages, M2 macrophage polarization, and foam cell formation %J ARYA Atherosclerosis Journal %I Cardiovascular research institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences %Z 1735-3955 %A Barati, Fatemeh %A Bashash, Davood %A Mohamadi, Mohamad Hosein %A Mehrpori, Mahdieh %A Hamidpour, Mohsen %D 2023 %\ 01/01/2023 %V 19 %N 1 %P 25-33 %! The effect of ox-LDL and platelets on macrophages, M2 macrophage polarization, and foam cell formation %K ox-LDL %K Platelets %K Macrophages %K Foam cells %K Atherosclerosis %R 10.48305/arya.2022.11777.2422 %X Background: The accumulation of oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) in macrophages in association with platelet activity leads to the formation of foam cells, which play a key role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and coronary artery diseases (CAD). Here, in this study, we aimed to investigate the simultaneous effect of ox-LDL and platelets on foam cell formation, as well as modification in cell markers. Methods: First, the U937, a human monocytic cell line,  was cultured in RPMI-1640. Then, isolated platelets were co-cultured with the U937 and exposed to ox-LDL (80 µg/ml) to evaluate the impact of ox-LDL on foam cell formation using Oil red O (ORO) staining. Also, the expression of foam cells’ surface markers and CD36, ABCA1, SR-B1, ACAT1, and LXRα genes, which are involved in macrophage metabolism and ox-LDL uptake, was measured by flow cytometry and real-time PCR, respectively. Results: Our findings suggest that platelets promoted foam cell formation (ORO-positive cells), accompanied by a higher level of CD163+ M2 macrophages. Furthermore, the expression of CD36, ABCA1, SR-B1, ACAT1, and LXRα genes, which are implicated in cholesterol accumulation in macrophages, was significantly upregulated in the ox-LDL+ platelets group compared to the control (P < 0.05). Moreover, the up-regulation of CD36, ABCA1, and SR-B1 genes in the ox-LDL+ platelets group was more accentuated compared to the ox-LDL group (P < 0.05).Conclusions: Owing to the positive effector role of platelets in the formation of foam cells and CD163+ cells, it could be assumed that platelets play a dual role in the development of these cells. %U https://arya.mui.ac.ir/article_26114_c0898d04d7aee531370ffda2b14f2565.pdf