Uptake and release of 3H-benzo(a)pyrene by arterial cells in vivo and in vitro

Cigarette smoking is an established risk factor for the development of clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis. The atherogenicity of the different components of cigarette smoke is still subject to debate. One possible mechanism is that tarderived hydrocarbons might exert toxic and/or mutagenic effects in the arterial wall including a monoclonal proliferation of smooth muscle cells. There is evidence that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from cigarette smoke can get access to the blood and that they are transported in plasma lipoproteins. Treatment of chickens with benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) induced or potentiated the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Others have studied the uptake of BaP by fibroblasts in culture. The fate of PAH in the arterial wall and in smooth muscle cells has not been clarified yet. The purpose of the present report was to study the uptake and release of BaP in smooth muscle cells in culture and the uptake of BaP in the arterial wall in vivo. (author)