Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) binds to a G-protein coupled receptor in human platelets: Evidence that the proaggregatory effect induced by LDL is modulated by down-regulation of binding sites and desensitization of its mediated signaling

Abstract

We present evidence of a link between low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor binding and activation of a platelet G-coupled protein. LDL stimulation induced cytosolic [Ca 2+] i mobilization, increase in inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP 3) formation and a rapid cytosol-to-membrane translocation of protein kinase C (PKC) enzymatic activity. Pertussis toxin inhibited all the stimulatory effects, whereas cholera toxin had no effect. Using ligand-binding assays, we demonstrated that exposing platelet LDL receptors to high concentrations of LDL (1.5 g/l) caused a rapid down-regulation and desensitization, as shown by the reduction in the B max, intracellular [Ca 2+] i mobilization and IP 3 formation to 65, 73 and 63%, respectively. The inhibitory effects were reversible and dose and time dependent. Furthermore, VLDL (0.2 g/l) and IDL (0.07 g/l) induced similar desensitization effects. However, HDL 3 (up to 1.5 g/l), chylomicrons (up to 0.5 g/l) and cyclohexandione-modified LDL (which does not bind to platelets) had no significant effects. Protein kinase C inhibitors (150 nmol/l staurosporine, 100 μmol/l H-7, and 10 nmol/l bisindolylmaleimide) inhibited desensitization to 71%, on average. Sequestration blocking agents (0.30 g/l, concanavalin A) had no significant effect if phosphorylation was operative. However, there was a complete blockade with the concurrent inhibition of both pathways. In contrast, cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitors (PKI, 1 μmol/l) or β 2-adrenergic receptor kinase inhibitors (100 nmol/l, heparin), had no effect. Overall results indicate that LDL binds to a pertussis sensitive G-protein coupled receptor and that high levels of lipoproteins down-regulate the number of receptors and desensitize its mediated response by a mechanism that involves PKC-phosphorylation and sequestration of binding sites. This new regulatory mechanism may have implications for the thrombogenicity in hyperlipidemia and for effects of lipid lowering therapy.