Effects of low shear stress and native LDL on oxidized-LDL and expression of pro-inflammatory molecules and matrix-degrading enzymes.

Dose-response effect of native (non-oxidized) LDL on the quantities of oxidized LDL (A), MCP-1, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, MMP-1 and -9, and cathepsins L and S (B-I), released into the medium of co-culture model #4 (white bars). Note that the pro-atherosclerotic effect of native LDL is significantly augmented by exposing the co-cultures to low shear stress (5±3 dynes/cm2) for 1 hour, prior to the addition of native LDL (black bars; ox-LDL: oxidized low-density lipoproteins, MCP: monocyte chemoattractant protein; IL: interleukin; MMP: matrix metalloproteinases) * pp p<0.001.