In vitro effects of hyperlipoproteinemic sera on human endothelium: Inhibition of endothelial cell migration by familial hypercholesterolemic sera

Since hyperlipoproteinemia is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis we have evaluated the effects of sera of different hyperlipoproteinemic clinical patterns on human endothelial cells in vitro. Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with sera from 2 patients homozygous for familial hypercholesterolemia and 4 patients heterozygous for that disorder. Familial hypercholesterolemic sera inhibited endothelial cell migration by 50% during a 72 hour incubation (p <0.0001) compared to normal pooled human serum or single donor AB serum when measured by an agarose gel technique. The inhibition of migration was not observed when cells were treated with familial combined hyperlipidemic sera (4 patients) or familial hypertriglyceridemic sera (5 patients). Endothelial cell detachment in vitro was not induced by any of the classical patterns of hyperlipoproteinemic sera tested. The development of atherosclerosis in familial hypercholesterolemia may be in part related to an impairment of endothelial repair.