Changes of Transmembrane Ca²⁺ Gradient in the Formation of Macrophage-Derived Foam Cells Available to Purchase

Macrophages from C57BL/6J mice, an animal susceptible toatherosclerosis, were chosen as target cells to study changes in thetransmembrane Ca²⁺adient during the formation ofmacrophage-derived foam cells. The transmembrane Ca²⁺adientsof single living cells were examined using Fura-2/AM combined withFluo-3/AM by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Exposure to OxidizedLow Density Lipoprotein, decreases the Ca²⁺adient acrossmacrophage plasma membrane, but increases that across the nuclearmembrane. The altered transmembrane Ca²⁺adients could inducethe up-regulation of scavenger receptor in macrophages, resulting inthe formation of foam cells.