Chylomicron Remnant Receptor Research Articles

LRP1 integrates murine macrophage cholesterol homeostasis and inflammatory responses in atherosclerosis.

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) is a multifunctional cell surface receptor with diverse physiological roles, ranging from cellular uptake of lipoproteins and other cargo by endocytosis to sensor of the extracellular environment and integrator of a wide range of signaling mechanisms. As a chylomicron remnant receptor, LRP1 controls systemic lipid metabolism in concert with the LDL receptor in the liver, whereas in smooth muscle cells (SMC) LRP1 functions as a co-receptor for TGFβ and PDGFRβ in reverse cholesterol transport and the maintenance of vascular wall integrity. Here we used a knockin mouse model to uncover a novel atheroprotective role for LRP1 in macrophages where tyrosine phosphorylation of an NPxY motif in its intracellular domain initiates a signaling cascade along an LRP1/SHC1/PI3K/AKT/PPARγ/LXR axis to regulate and integrate cellular cholesterol homeostasis through the expression of the major cholesterol exporter ABCA1 with apoptotic cell removal and inflammatory responses.

LRP1 Protein Deficiency Exacerbates Palmitate-induced Steatosis and Toxicity in Hepatocytes

LRP1 (LDL receptor-related protein-1) is a ubiquitous receptor with both cell signaling and ligand endocytosis properties. In the liver, LRP1 serves as a chylomicron remnant receptor and also participates in the transport of extracellular cathepsin D to the lysosome for prosaposin activation. The current study showed that in comparison with wild type mice, hepatocyte-specific LRP1 knock-out (hLrp1(-/-)) mice were more susceptible to fasting-induced lipid accumulation in the liver. Primary hepatocytes isolated from hLrp1(-/-) mice also accumulated more intracellular lipids and experienced higher levels of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress after palmitate treatment compared with similarly treated hLrp1(+/+) hepatocytes. Palmitate-treated hLrp1(-/-) hepatocytes displayed similar LC3-II levels, but the levels of p62 were elevated in comparison with palmitate-treated hLrp1(+/+) hepatocytes, suggesting that the elevated lipid accumulation in LRP1-defective hepatocytes was not due to defects in autophagosome formation but was due to impairment of lipophagic lipid hydrolysis in the lysosome. Additional studies showed increased palmitate-induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial and lysosomal permeability, and cell death in hLrp1(-/-) hepatocytes. Importantly, the elevated cell death and ER stress observed in hLrp1(-/-) hepatocytes were abrogated by E64D treatment, whereas inhibiting ER stress diminished cell death but not lysosomal permeabilization. Taken together, these results documented that LRP1 deficiency in hepatocytes promotes lipid accumulation and lipotoxicity through lysosomal-mitochondrial permeabilization and ER stress that ultimately result in cell death. Hence, LRP1 dysfunction may be a major risk factor in fatty liver disease progression.

Hepatic Deficiency of Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein-1 Reduces High Density Lipoprotein Secretion and Plasma Levels in Mice

The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) is known to serve as a chylomicron remnant receptor in the liver responsible for the binding and plasma clearance of apolipoprotein E-containing lipoproteins. Previous in vitro studies have provided evidence to suggest that LRP1 expression may also influence high density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism. The current study showed that liver-specific LRP1 knock-out (hLrp1(-/-)) mice displayed lower fasting plasma HDL cholesterol levels when compared with hLrp1(+/+) mice. Lecithin:cholesterol acyl transferase and hepatic lipase activities in plasma of hLrp1(-/-) mice were comparable with those observed in hLrp1(+/+) mice, indicating that hepatic LRP1 inactivation does not influence plasma HDL remodeling. Plasma clearance of HDL particles and HDL-associated cholesteryl esters was also similar between hLrp1(+/+) and hLrp1(-/-) mice. In contrast, HDL secretion from primary hepatocytes isolated from hLrp1(-/-) mice was significantly reduced when compared with that observed with hLrp1(+/+) hepatocytes. Biotinylation of cell surface proteins revealed decreased surface localization of the ATP-binding cassette, subfamily A, member 1 (ABCA1) protein, but total cellular ABCA1 level was not changed in hLrp1(-/-) hepatocytes. Finally, hLrp1(-/-) hepatocytes displayed reduced binding capacity for extracellular cathepsin D, resulting in lower intracellular cathepsin D content and impairment of prosaposin activation, a process that is required for membrane translocation of ABCA1 to facilitate cholesterol efflux and HDL secretion. Taken together, these results documented that hepatic LRP1 participates in cellular activation of lysosomal enzymes and through this mechanism, indirectly modulates the production and plasma levels of HDL.

The very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor--a peripheral lipoprotein receptor for remnant lipoproteins into fatty acid active tissues.

The VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) receptor is a member of the LDL (low density lipoprotein) receptor family. The VLDL receptor binds apolipoprotein (apo) E but not apo B, and is expressed in fatty acid active tissues (heart, muscle, adipose) and macrophages abundantly. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) modulates the binding of triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoprotein particles to the VLDL receptor. By the unique ligand specificity, VLDL receptor practically appeared to function as IDL (intermediate density lipoprotein) and chylomicron remnant receptor in peripheral tissues in concert with LPL. In contrast to LDL receptor, the VLDL receptor expression is not down regulated by lipoproteins. Recently several possible functions of the VLDL receptor have been reported in lipoprotein metabolism, atherosclerosis, obesity/insulin resistance, cardiac fatty acid metabolism and neuronal migration. The gene therapy of VLDL receptor into the LDL receptor knockout mice liver showed a benefit effect for lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis. Further researches about the VLDL receptor function will be needed in the future.

Immunological Quantitation and Localization of ACAT-1 and ACAT-2 in Human Liver and Small Intestine

By using specific anti-ACAT-1 antibodies in immunodepletion studies, we previously found that ACAT-1, a 50-kDa protein, plays a major catalytic role in the adult human liver, adrenal glands, macrophages, and kidneys but not in the intestine. Acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity in the intestine may be largely derived from a different ACAT protein. To test this hypothesis, we produced specific polyclonal anti-ACAT-2 antibodies that quantitatively immunodepleted human ACAT-2, a 46-kDa protein expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. In hepatocyte-like HepG2 cells, ACAT-1 comprises 85-90% of the total ACAT activity, with the remainder attributed to ACAT-2. In adult intestines, most of the ACAT activity can be immunodepleted by anti-ACAT-2. ACAT-1 and ACAT-2 do not form hetero-oligomeric complexes. In differentiating intestinal enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells, ACAT-2 protein content increases by 5-10-fold in 6 days, whereas ACAT-1 protein content remains relatively constant. In the small intestine, ACAT-2 is concentrated at the apices of the villi, whereas ACAT-1 is uniformly distributed along the villus-crypt axis. In the human liver, ACAT-1 is present in both fetal and adult hepatocytes. In contrast, ACAT-2 is evident in fetal but not adult hepatocytes. Our results collectively suggest that in humans, ACAT-2 performs significant catalytic roles in the fetal liver and in intestinal enterocytes.

APOLIPOPROTEIN E POLYMORPHISM AND AGE OF PRESENTATION FOR CORONARY REVASCULARIZATION

Introduction: Apolipoprotein E(APOE) polymorphism has been shown to be a heritable determinate of total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. APOE modulates the catabolism of triglyceride depleted remnants of chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins by acting as a ligand for the LDL receptor and for the chylomicron remnant receptor. The importance of APOE mediated increases in cholesterol level on the severity of atherosclerosis appeared initially to be controversial. [1] However, recent studies have identified a correlation between APOE and the severity of atherosclerosis. [2,3] The purpose of our investigation was to assess the impact of APOE polymorphism on the age at presentation for primary CABG. Methods: With institutional review board approval and patient informed consent 576 patients undergoing primary CABG surgery were enrolled in a study examining the relationship between APOE genotype and age at presentation for primary revascularization. We hypothesized that the patients with the APOE4 allele would be predisposed to CAD and present earlier for myocardial revascularization. We first assessed the association between individual APOE genotype and age at presentation utilizing an analysis of variance (ANOVA) controlling for gender. Because of the small number of patients in individual genotypes we then compared those with one or more copies of the APOE4 allele with those having no copies of the APOE4 allele again with an ANOVA controlling for gender. Results: Demographic and APOE4 frequency for the group are outlined in Table 1 and Figure 1. We found a significant difference in age at presentation by APOE genotype (p=0.047, Figure 1). Comparison of those patients with one or more copies of the APOE4 allele to those without showed an earlier age at presentation for those with the APOE4 allele (p=0.033).Table 1Figure 1: APOE Genotype vs. Age at Primary CABGDiscussion: This is the first report of a genetic polymorphism linked to the age of presentation for CABG. Previous reports have identified APOE polymorphism as a risk factor for atherosclerosis, and restenosis after angioplasty. Identification of at risk individuals may help in primary or secondary prevention of atherosclerosis, or with further study may define which intervention is most appropriate based on long-term outcome, myocardial or neurologic, in an at risk patient population. Further study is needed to define the mechanism by which this association exists.

Hepatic apo E expression is required for remnant lipoprotein clearance in the absence of the low density lipoprotein receptor.

According to the secretion-capture model of remnant lipoprotein clearance, apo E secreted by hepatocytes into the space of Disse serves to enrich the remnants with a ligand for receptor-mediated lipoprotein endocytosis. Current evidence supports a two-receptor model of lipoprotein removal, in which apo E-containing remnants bind either the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) or the LDLR-related protein (LRP). Recently, we demonstrated that reconstitution of apo E(-/-) mice with apo E(+/+) marrow results in normalization of plasma lipoprotein levels, indicating that hepatic expression of apo E is not required for remnant clearance and calling into question the relevance of the secretion-capture mechanism. To dissect the relative contributions of LDLR and LRP to the cellular catabolism of remnant lipoproteins by the hepatocyte, bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was used to reconstitute macrophage expression of apo E in mice that were null for expression of both apo E and the LDLR. Reconstitution of macrophage apo E in apo E(-/-)/LDLR(-/-) mice had no effect on serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, although it produced plasma apo E levels up to 16-fold higher than in C57BL/6 controls. Immunocytochemistry of hepatic sections revealed abundant staining for apo E in the space of Disse, but no evidence of receptor-mediated endocytosis of remnant lipoproteins. Transient expression of human LDLR in the livers of apo E(+/+)--> apo E(-/-)/LDLR(-/-) mice by adenoviral gene transfer resulted in normalization of serum lipid levels and in the clearance of apo E-containing lipoproteins from the space of Disse. We conclude that whereas the LDLR efficiently clears remnant lipoproteins irrespective of the site of origin of apo E, endocytosis by the chylomicron remnant receptor (LRP) is absolutely dependent on hepatic expression of apo E. These data demonstrate in vivo the physiologic relevance of the apo E secretion-capture mechanism in the liver.

Clearance of lipoprotein remnant particles in adipose tissue and muscle in humans

A major proportion of triglycerides in plasma triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL) are removed in peripheral tissues by lipoprotein lipase, and hypothetically a minor proportion can also be removed by whole-lipoprotein particle uptake. This second removal pathway has not previously been directly demonstrated in humans. Simultaneous blood samples were drawn from arterialized blood, a vein draining the subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue, and a deep antecubital vein of the forearm to provide arterio-venous gradients from blood-draining adipose tissue and muscle in seven male subjects. The men were given a fat-rich mixed meal containing vitamin A and the triglyceride and retinyl palmitate (RP) concentrations were quantified in the plasma. Density gradient ultracentrifugation was used to isolate TRL fractions, in which triglycerides, RP, apoB-48, and apoB-100 were quantified. There was clearance of triglycerides in muscle and adipose tissue and, in addition, removal of RP. By analysis of the TRL subfractions, the RP removal was likely to be confined to the largest chylomicron remnant particles. For the Sf > 400 fraction, the area under curve (AUC) relative to arterial for triglycerides were 79% (66-91%) and 81% (72-89%) in adipose tissue and muscle venous outflow, respectively (each P < 0.02 versus arterial). The corresponding values for RP were 87% (73-101%) and 85% (69-100%), respectively, (each P < 0.05 versus arterial). In the Sf 60-400 fraction there was further uptake of triglycerides, but not of RP. We hypothesize that the periphery could be of importance for removal of the largest chylomicron remnants, as their size might partially exclude them penetrating the fenestrated hepatic sinusoidal endothelium to reach the hepatic chylomicron remnant receptors.

Oligonucleotide Ligation Assay for Detection of Apolipoprotein E Polymorphisms

Apolipoprotein (apo) E is a protein component of lipoproteins, 50% of which resides in HDL, 10% in LDL, 20% in IDL, and 20% in VLDL cholesterol fractions (1). Apo E binds to the LDL receptor, also termed the B,E receptor, because the receptor accepts both apo B and apo E. Apo E is also thought to bind to a specific chylomicron remnant receptor by virtue of its structural determinants. The heterogeneity in receptor binding of different varieties of apo E is explained by the affinity of different apo E alleles to various receptors. Apo E polymorphisms may be explained by three major alleles: apo Ee2, apo Ee3, and apo Ee4, which are found in 10%, 76%, and 13%, respectively, of the Caucasian population (2). The polymorphisms are due to substitution of a cysteine for an arginine at residue 112 or 158, or at both residues. The apo Ee2 variant has the lowest affinity for the LDL receptor. There is an LDL concentration gradient in both the healthy population and in those with coronary heart disease. Individuals homozygous for apo Ee2 have the lowest concentrations of LDL, and apo Ee4 homozygotes have the highest LDL concentrations (3). The apo Ee4 allele has also been associated with Alzheimer disease. However, the mechanisms of this association are not yet clear (4). Thus, the interest in apo E polymorphisms is high, both on the basis of epidemiological research and for the purpose of clarifying individual lipid disturbances or dementias. We have successfully applied the oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA) technique to screen for mutations causing familial hypercholesterolemia (5). We have now adapted this technique for the detection of apo E polymorphisms in large numbers of samples. PCR amplification of genomic DNA from peripheral blood was performed in a Perkin-Elmer 9600 Thermocycler. A 310-bp fragment of …

Mechanism of Activation and Functional Significance of the Lipolysis-Stimulated Receptor. Evidence for a Role as Chylomicron Remnant Receptor

In cultured human and rat cells, the lipolysis-stimulated receptor (LSR), when activated by free fatty acids (FFA), mediates the binding of apoprotein B- and apoprotein E-containing lipoproteins and their subsequent internalization and degradation. To better understand the physiological role of LSR, we developed a biochemical assay that optimizes both the activation and binding steps and, thus, allows the estimation of the number of LSR binding sites expressed in the livers of living animals. With this technique, a strong inverse correlation was found in rats between the apparent number of LSR binding sites in liver and the postprandial plasma triglyceride concentration (r = -0.828, p < 0.001, n = 12). No correlation existed between the number of LSR and plasma triglycerides measured in the same animals after 24 h of fasting. The same membrane binding assay was used to elucidate the mechanism by which FFA induce lipoprotein binding to LSR. The LSR activation step was mediated by direct interaction of FFA with LSR candidate proteins of apparent molecular masses of 115 and 90 kDa and occurred independently of the membrane lipid environment. The FFA-induced conformational shift that revealed the lipoprotein binding site remained fully reversible upon removal of the FFA. However, occupancy of the site by the apoprotein ligand stabilized the active form of LSR. Comparison of the effect of different FFA alone or in combination indicated that the same binding site is revealed by different FFA and that the length and saturation of the FFA monomeric carbon chain are critical in determining the potency of the FFA activating effect. We propose that the LSR pathway represents a limiting step for the cellular uptake of intestinally derived triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and speculate that FFA liberated by lipolysis initiate this process by altering the conformation of LSR to reveal the lipoprotein binding site.

The two-receptor model of lipoprotein clearance: tests of the hypothesis in "knockout" mice lacking the low density lipoprotein receptor, apolipoprotein E, or both proteins.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is hypothesized to mediate lipoprotein clearance by binding to two receptors: (i) the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and (ii) a chylomicron remnant receptor. To test this hypothesis, we have compared plasma lipoproteins in mice that are homozygous for targeted disruptions of the genes for apoE [apoE(-/-)], the LDLR [LDLR(-/-)], and both molecules [poE(-/-); LDLR(-/-)]. On a normal chow diet, apoE(-/-) mice had higher mean plasma cholesterol levels than LDLR(-/-) mice (579 vs. 268 mg/dl). Cholesterol levels in the apoE(-/-); LDLR(-/-) mice were not significantly different from those in the apoE(-/-) mice. LDLR(-/-) mice had a relatively isolated elevation in plasma LDL, whereas apoE(-/-) mice had a marked increase in larger lipoproteins corresponding to very low density lipoproteins and chylomicron remnants. The lipoprotein pattern in apoE(-/-); LDLR(-/-) mice resembled that of apoE(-/-) mice. The LDLR(-/-) mice had a marked elevation in apoB-100 and a modest increase in apoB-48. In contrast, the apoE(-/-) mice had a marked elevation in apoB-48 but not in apoB-100. The LDLR(-/-); apoE(-/-) double homozygotes had marked elevations of both apolipoproteins. The observation that apoB-48 increases more dramatically with apoE deficiency than with LDLR deficiency supports the notion that apoE binds to a second receptor in addition to the LDLR. This conclusion is also supported by the observation that superimposition of a LDLR deficiency onto an apoE deficiency [apoE(-/-); LDLR(-/-) double homozygotes] does not increase hypercholesterolemia beyond the level observed with apoE deficiency alone.

A rapid, semiautomated method for apolipoprotein E genotyping.

1Center for Human Genetics and 2Hypertension Unit, University of Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N6, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium Apolipoprotein E (apo E), a single-chain polypeptide of 299 amino acids, is a protein component of lipoproteins playing a role in lipid metabolism through its interaction with the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and chylomicron remnant receptors. Three major isoforms, E2, E3, and E4, can be distinguished. Apo E4 differs from apo E3 at residue 112, where a cysteine is replaced by an arginine. In Apo E2, residue 158, a cysteine is substituted for arginine. At the DNA level these polymorphisms can be detected by restriction fragment length polymorphisms after digestion with HhaI (1) (Fig. 1). Apo E2 shows a significantly decreased b inding activity (<2% compared with apo E3) to both LDL and chylomicron remnant receptors and is therefore catabolized more slowly than apo E3. Consequently, the accumulat ion of the triglyceride-rich very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) remnants and a low level of LDL cholesterol is observed. Apo E2 is supposed to play a protective role against the development of atherosclerosis. Although the affinity of apo E4 for its receptors is indistinguishable from that of apo E3, its distribution differs from apo E3 and it is catabolized more rapidly than apo E3, leading to an accumulat ion of LDL cholesterol that could favor the development of atherosclerosis. (2'3) As a consequence, apo E genotyping is of increasing importance in clinical practice to identify individuals at risk for cardiovascular diseases. Several methods have been developed for the genotyping of apo E. Some of these require two PCR steps followed by restriction digestion, (4,s) whereas the PCR method with the amplification refractory mutat ion system primers needs four reactions for each sample. (6) The method described by Hixson and W e n h a m includes one step of PCR amplif icat ion and restriction digestion. The restriction fragments are separated on an acrylamide gel and viewed under UV light after staining by e thidium bromide. (7) To allow for the large-scale genotyping of apo E, a simple and rapid method was developed for the isolation of DNA from large numbers of whole blood samples using standard glass fiber filters. PCR in the presence of FITC-dUTP then allows for the nonradioactive detection of the different restriction fragments of apo E alleles using a fluorescent DNA sequencer.

In vivo removal of beta-VLDL, chylomicron remnants, and alpha 2-macroglobulin in the rat.

The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP)/alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) receptor has been suggested as a potential chylomicron remnant receptor. To investigate the involvement of LRP in chylomicron remnant metabolism in vivo, cross-competition experiments with chylomicron remnants, beta-VLDL, and receptor-active alpha 2M, complexed with trypsin (alpha 2M-trypsin), were performed in rats. Saturating concentrations of unlabeled beta-VLDL failed to inhibit the plasma clearance and hepatic uptake of 125I-labeled alpha 2M-trypsin and, vice versa, alpha 2M-trypsin failed to retard the removal of 125I-labeled chylomicron remnants. It has been demonstrated previously that bovine lipoprotein lipase (LPL) strongly enhances the binding of apolipoprotein E-containing lipoproteins to LRP (U. Beisiegel, W. Weber, and G. Bengtsson-Olivecrona. 1991. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 88: 8342-8346). Therefore, beta-VLDL were enriched with isolated LPL or heparin was injected simultaneously with beta-VLDL to increase the concentration of endogenous LPL bound to beta-VLDL. Yet, no inhibition of the plasma elimination and the hepatic uptake of 125I-labeled alpha 2M-trypsin was observed after injection of saturating amounts of beta-VLDL enriched with LPL. We conclude that in the rat triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and alpha 2M-trypsin bind in vivo either to different binding domains of LRP or to a different receptor protein.

Low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein and gp330 bind similar ligands, including plasminogen activator-inhibitor complexes and lactoferrin, an inhibitor of chylomicron remnant clearance.

The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein/alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor (LRP) and gp330, two members of the low density lipoprotein receptor gene family, share a multitude of cysteine-rich repeats. LRP has been shown to act as an endocytosis-mediating receptor for several ligands, including protease-antiprotease complexes and plasma lipoproteins. The former include alpha 2-macroglobulin-protease complexes and plasminogen activator inhibitor-activator complexes. The latter include chylomicron remnant-like particles designated beta-very low density lipoproteins (beta-VLDL) complexed with apoprotein E or lipoprotein lipase. The binding specificity of gp330 is unknown. In the current studies we show that gp330 from rat kidney membranes binds several of these ligands on nitrocellulose blots. We also show that both LRP and gp330 bind an additional ligand, bovine lactoferrin, which is known to inhibit the hepatic clearance of chylomicron remnants. Lactoferrin blocked the LRP-dependent stimulation of cholesteryl ester synthesis in cultured human fibroblasts elicited by apoprotein E-beta-VLDL or lipoprotein lipase-beta-VLDL complexes. Cross-competition experiments in fibroblasts showed that the multiple ligands recognize at least three distinct, but partially overlapping sites on the LRP molecule. Binding of all ligands to LRP and gp330 was inhibited by the 39-kDa protein, which co-purifies with the two receptors, suggesting that the 39-kDa protein is a universal regulator of ligand binding to both receptors. The correlation of the inhibitory effects of lactoferrin in vivo and in vitro support the notion that LRP functions as a chylomicron remnant receptor in liver. LRP and gp330 share a multiplicity of binding sites, and both may function as endocytosis-mediating receptors for a large number of ligands in different organs.

Plasma lipoprotein metabolism in transgenic mice overexpressing apolipoprotein E. Accelerated clearance of lipoproteins containing apolipoprotein B.

We have reported that transgenic mice overexpressing rat apo E shows marked reduction of plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels due to the disappearance of VLDL and LDL. In this study, we investigated the metabolism of plasma lipoproteins in transgenic mice. After intravenous injection, the rates of clearance of 125I-VLDL and 125I-LDL were 3.0- and 2.4-fold greater in transgenic mice than in controls, respectively. Furthermore, clearance of chylomicron remnants estimated by oral retinyl palmitate-loading test was markedly enhanced in transgenic mice. The hepatic expression of LDL receptors by immunoblot analysis was similar in both groups. These data suggest that elimination of lipoproteins containing apo B was due to enhanced clearance of these lipoproteins enriched with apo E through hepatic LDL receptors. When fed a high cholesterol diet, controls showed twofold elevation of plasma cholesterol levels with marked increases in VLDL and LDL cholesterol on gel filtration chromatography. In contrast, cholesterol-fed transgenic mice showed resistance against these increases. High cholesterol feeding decreased the activity of hepatic LDL receptors and had no effect on enhancement of chylomicron remnant clearance in transgenic mice. Thus, overexpression of apo E facilitates metabolism of lipoproteins containing apo B presumably primarily via the LDL receptor pathway and possibly through an interaction with the chylomicron remnant receptor.

Uptake of chylomicron remnant retinyl esters in human leukocytes in vivo.

Retinoids have been successfully used in the treatment of some forms of leukaemia, suggesting that such cells have an efficient uptake mechanism for circulating retinoids. Therefore, we have studied the uptake of lipoprotein-associated retinyl esters in human leukocytes in vivo. After an oral load of 100 mumol retinyl palmitate (30,000 retinol equivalents) per square meter given to healthy adults, the concentration of retinoids in circulating leukocytes was determined. A peak was measured after 5 h, which coincided with a peak of retinyl esters in plasma. To test whether low-density lipoprotein receptors are necessary for the postprandial uptake of retinoids, we studied retinoid uptake in leukocytes from two patients homozygous for familial hypercholesterolaemia. After an oral load of retinoids we found that leukocytes from these patients took up at least as much retinoid as leukocytes in normal individuals, suggesting that uptake of chylomicron remnant retinyl esters may proceed independent of the low-density lipoprotein receptor. The expression of mRNA for the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein, which is a putative chylomicron remnant receptor, was similar in leukocytes from a patient homozygous for familial hypercholesterolaemia and normal individuals. Six hours after vitamin A administration, recovery of unesterified retinol was 71% in normal leukocytes, however, only 9% unesterified retinol was recovered in leukocytes from the two patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia. Thus, the apparent rate of retinyl ester hydrolysis was markedly reduced in leukocytes from these patients, indicating different intracellular traffic of chylomicron remnants in normal individuals and patients homozygous for familial hypercholesterolaemia.

肝臓リポ蛋白レセプター

We investigated the possibility of the existence of hepatic Chylomicron Remnant (CR) receptors with HepG2 cells. In HepG2 cells incubated with LPDS or LPDS+25 OH cholesterol for 24 hours, the binding and internalization of 125I-CR were inhibited about 79.0% and 78.8% respectively by the incubation with unlabelled CR. On the other hand, in HepG2 cells incubated with LPDS or LPDS+25 OH cholesterol for 24 hours, the binding and internalization of 125I-CR were inhibited about 80.8% and 52.7% respectively by the incubation with unlabelled LDL. In human fibroblasts incubated with LPDS or LPDS+25 OH cholesterol for 24 hours, the bining and internalization of 125I-CR were inhibited about 79.7-82.4% and 73.7-78.6% by the incubation with unlabelled CR or unlabelled LDL. These results suggest that HepG2 cells may have functional remnant receptors which are not regulated by cholesterol loading.

Diagnosis and Management of Familial Dyslipoproteinemia in Children and Adolescents

CAD results from atherosclerosis, a chronic disease process that has its origin in childhood. Children and adolescents can be at higher risk for CAD by virtue of being from families with premature CAD or familial dyslipoproteinemias. The plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels result from a number of complex metabolic processes that are under the control of genetic and environmental (e.g., diet) influences. The normal ranges of plasma lipids and lipoproteins in children are known, and children and adolescents with dyslipoproteinemia are ordinarily defined as those having levels of plasma total, LDL, or triglyceride above the 95th percentile or with a low HDL cholesterol below the 5th percentile. Children of a parent with documented dyslipoproteinemia or with family history of premature CAD may be screened in the fasting state any time after 2 years of age. Following the exclusion of secondary causes of dyslipoproteinemia, the diagnosis of primary dyslipoproteinemia can be made. Lipoprotein patterns are not diagnostic for a given genotype. Efforts to determine further the biochemical defects responsible for a given phenotype have led to the investigation of gene coding for the apolipoproteins, the key enzymes in the lipoproteins pathways (LPL, HDL, and LCAT) and the receptors that process lipoproteins, such as the LDL receptor and the chylomicron remnant receptor. From a practical standpoint, the diagnosis of the kind of dyslipoproteinemia in a child will depend upon the nature and severity of the dyslipoproteinemia, both in the child (or adolescent) and in parents and siblings. Marked increases in plasma total and LDL cholesterol in the child and in at least one of the parents often reflect the presence of familial hypercholesterolemia, an inherited dominant condition due to a defect in the LDL receptor gene. The triglyceride levels are often normal. If the child has a different dyslipoproteinemia pattern from siblings and parents, then the diagnosis of familial combined hyperlipidemia or hyperapobetalipoproteinemia should be considered. Most children with mild or borderline elevations in total and LDL cholesterol will have polygenic hypercholesterolemia. Triglyceride problems in children and adolescents are relatively uncommon, particularly the more severe hypertriglyceridemia such as that found in lipoprotein lipase and apoC-II deficiency, dysbetalipoproteinemia, and type V hyperlipoproteinemia. High levels of Lp(a) lipoprotein, in isolation or in combination with other dyslipoproteinemia, accelerate risk for CAD. Low levels of HDL cholesterol in the absence of other abnormalities suggest the diagnosis of hypoalphalipoproteinemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Binding of low density and very low density lipoproteins to liver plasma membranes of copper-deficient rats

The binding of rat LDL and rabbit β-VLDL to liver plasma membranes of copper-deficient rats was examined. Characterization experiments demonstrated binding of both lipoprotein fractions to be relatively insensitive to treatment with pronase, EDTA, excess CaCl 2, or heparin. Competitive displacement experiments demonstrated that the binding reaction is not dependent on specific apolipoprotein ligands and imply a nonspecific binding site. These results indicate binding independent of the LDL or chylomicron remnant receptor. Copper deficiency had no effect on the total binding of either LDL or β-VLDL over a wide range of label concentration. The data indicate that hepatic membranes from copper-deficient rats do not exhibit altered binding capacity for LDL or β-VLDL and provide evidence that an impairment in receptor-mediated binding of lipoproteins does not contribute to the hypercholesterolemia observed in copper-deficient rats.

Assembly and secretion of hepatic very-low-density lipoprotein

In contrast to water-soluble fuels such as glucose or ketone bodies, the use of lipids as an energy source for tissues has required the development of complex structures for their transport through the aqueous plasma. In the case of endogenously synthesized triacylglycerol this is achieved by the assembly and secretion of hepatic VLDL which provides the necessary stability in an aqueous medium. An essential component of this assembly process is apo B. Dietary changes which require an increase in hepatic VLDL secretion appear to be accompanied by increases in the availability of functional apo B. Interesting questions relate to: (a) the intracellular site(s) of triacylglycerol association with apo B, and (b) the mechanism(s) by which the availability of functional apo B at this site responds to metabolic and hormonal signals which reflect dietary status and, thus, the need to secrete triacylglycerol. As regards the latter, although in some cases changes in apo B synthesis occur in response to VLDL secretion hepatic apo B mRNA levels appear to be quite stable in vitro. Intracellular switching of apo B between the secretory and degradative pathways may be important in controlling VLDL assembly and post-translational modifications of the apoprotein may also play a role by influencing its ability to bind to triacylglycerol. Transport is not the only problem associated with the utilization of a concentrated energy source such as triacylglycerol and the complex problems of waste product disposal and recycling have to be dealt with. In the case of triacylglycerol, potentially toxic waste products include atherogenic remnants and LDL. The overall problem, then, in the long-term, involves the development of a 'safe' means of utilizing triacylglycerol and this requirement accounts for much of the complexity of plasma lipoprotein metabolism. In this area, the rat could teach the human a few tricks. One of these appears to be the utilization of hepatic apo B48 rather than apo B100 for VLDL assembly in response to increases in the extrahepatic utilization of hepatically synthesized triacylglycerol. Under these conditions, the remnants of hepatic triacylglycerol utilization by peripheral tissues are cleared from the plasma much more readily via a process which seems to involve the cycling of more triacylglycerol back to the liver than that which occurs in humans. The means by which this is achieved, though, are obscure and may involve a chylomicron remnant receptor, the nature of which, itself, remains controversial.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)