Lipid transfer inhibitor protein defines the participation of high density lipoprotein subfractions in lipid transfer reactions mediated by cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP)

Cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) moves triglyceride (TG) and cholesteryl ester (CE) between lipoproteins. CETP has no apparent preference for high (HDL) or low (LDL) density lipoprotein as lipid donor to very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), and the preference for HDL observed in plasma is due to suppression of LDL transfers by lipid transfer inhibitor protein (LTIP). Given the heterogeneity of HDL, and a demonstrated ability of HDL subfractions to bind LTIP, we examined whether LTIP might also control CETP-facilitated lipid flux among HDL subfractions. CETP-mediated CE transfers from [3H]CE VLDL to various lipoproteins, combined on an equal phospholipid basis, ranged 2-fold and followed the order: HDL3 > LDL > HDL2. LTIP inhibited VLDL to HDL2 transfer at one-half the rate of VLDL to LDL. In contrast, VLDL to HDL3 transfer was stimulated, resulting in a CETP preference for HDL3 that was 3-fold greater than that for LDL or HDL2. Long-term mass transfer experiments confirmed these findings and further established that the previously observed stimulation of CETP activity on HDL by LTIP is due solely to its stimulation of transfer activity on HDL3. TG enrichment of HDL2, which occurs during the HDL cycle, inhibited CETP activity by approximately 2-fold and LTIP activity was blocked almost completely. This suggests that LTIP keeps lipid transfer activity on HDL2 low and constant regardless of its TG enrichment status. Overall, these results show that LTIP tailors CETP-mediated remodeling of HDL3 and HDL2 particles in subclass-specific ways, strongly implicating LTIP as a regulator of HDL metabolism.     

Study of the components of reverse cholesterol transport in lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency

Enzymatic and lipid transfer reactions involved in reverse cholesterol transport were studied in healthy and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), deficient subjects. Fasting plasma samples obtained from each individual were labeled with [3H]cholesterol and subsequently fractionated by gel chromatography. The radioactivity patterns obtained corresponded to the elution volumes of the three major ultracentrifugally isolated lipoprotein classes (very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), and high density lipoproteins (HDL)). In healthy subjects, the LCAT activity was consistently found in association with the higher molecular weight portion of HDL. Similar observations were made when exogenous purified LCAT was added to the LCAT-deficient plasma prior to chromatography. Incubation of the plasma samples at 37 degrees C resulted in significant reduction of unesterified cholesterol (FC) and an increase in esterified cholesterol (CE). Comparison of the data of FC and CE mass measurements of the lipoprotein fractions from normal and LCAT-deficient plasma indicates that: (i) In normal plasma, most of the FC for the LCAT reaction originates from LDL even when large amounts of FC are available from VLDL. (ii) The LCAT reaction takes place on the surface of HDL. (iii) The product of the LCAT reaction (CE) may be transferred to either VLDL or LDL although VLDL appears to be the preferred acceptor when present in sufficient amounts. (iv) CE transfer from HDL to lower density lipoproteins is at least partially impaired in LCAT-deficient patients. Additional studies using triglyceride-rich lipoproteins indicated that neither the capacity to accept CE from HDL nor the lower CE transfer activity were responsible for the decreased amount of CE transferred to VLDL and chylomicrons in LCAT-deficient plasma.     

Concentration of neutral lipids in the phospholipid surface of substrate particles determines lipid transfer protein activity

To better understand the mechanism of lipid transfer protein (LTP) action and the effects of altered lipoprotein composition on its activity, we evaluated the dependence of LTP activity on the concentrations of cholesteryl ester (CE) and/or triglyceride (TG) in the phospholipid bilayer of substrate particles. Phosphatidylcholine (PC)-cholesterol liposomes containing up to 2 mole% TG and/or CE were prepared by cholate dialysis and used as either the donor of lipids to, or the acceptor of lipids from, low density lipoproteins (LDL). CE or TG transfer from liposomes of varying neutral lipid content to LDL showed saturation kinetics with an apparent Km of less than or equal to 0.2 mole%. Throughout this concentration-dependent response. PC transfer, which depended on the same LTP-donor particle binding interactions as those required for neutral lipid transfer, was essentially unchanged. Lipid transfer in the reverse direction (from LDL to liposomes of varying neutral lipid content) followed the same kinetics showing that transfer between the two particles is tightly coupled and bidirectional. When liposomes contained both TG and CE, these lipids competed for transfer in a manner analogous to that previously noted with lipoprotein substrates. In conclusion, CE and TG transfer activities are determined by the concentration of these lipids in the phospholipid surface of donor and acceptor particles. At low TG and CE concentrations, LTP bound to the liposome surface as indicated by PC transfer, but only a portion of these interactions actually facilitated a neutral lipid transfer event. Thus, the overall rate of neutral lipid transfer, and the competition between TG and CE for transfer, depend on the concentrations of these lipids in the phospholipid layer.     

Selective uptake of cholesteryl esters from various classes of lipoproteins by HepG2 cells.

Selective uptake of cholesteryl esters (CE) from lipoproteins by cells has been extensively studied with high density lipoproteins (HDL). It is only recently that such a mechanism has been attributed to intermediate and low density lipoproteins (IDL and LDL). Here, we compare the association of proteins and CE from very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), IDL, LDL and HDL3 to HepG2 cells. These lipoproteins were either labelled in proteins with 125I or in CE with 3H-cholesteryl oleate. We show that, at any lipoprotein concentration, protein association to the cells is significantly smaller for IDL, LDL, and HDL3 than CE association, but not for VLDL. At a concentration of 20 microg lipoprotein/mL, these associations reveal CE-selective uptake in the order of 2-, 4-, and 11-fold for IDL, LDL, and HDL3, respectively. These studies reveal that LDL and HDL3 are good selective donors of CE to HepG2 cells, while IDL is a poor donor and VLDL is not a donor. A significant inverse correlation (r2 = 0.973) was found between the total lipid/protein ratios of the four classes of lipoproteins and the extent of CE-selective uptake by HepG2 cells. The fate of 3H-CE of the two best CE donors (LDL and HDL3) was followed in HepG2 cells after 3 h of incubation. Cells were shown to hydrolyze approximately 25% of the 3H-CE of both lipoproteins. However, when the cells were treated with 100 microM of chloroquine, a lysosomotropic agent, 85 and 40% of 3H-CE hydrolysis was lost for LDL and HDL3, respectively. The fate of LDL and HDL3-CE in HepG2 cells deficient in LDL-receptor was found to be the same, indicating that the portion of CE hydrolysis sensitive to chloroquine is not significantly linked to LDL-receptor activity. Thus, in HepG2 cells, the magnitude of CE-selective uptake is inversely correlated with the total lipid/protein ratios of the lipoproteins and CE-selective uptake from the two best CE donors (LDL and HDL3) appears to follow different pathways.     

Ethanol induced alterations in low and high density lipoproteins

Male squirrel monkeys fed ethanol (ETOH) at variable doses were used to determine whether alcohol modifies levels of plasma low density lipoproteins (LDL) in addition to increasing high density lipoproteins (HDL). Because we earlier showed that high alcohol consumption enhances lipoprotein cholesterol synthesis, experiments were also performed to further assess whether ETOH alters lipoprotein clearance and plasma transfer processes in vivo. Monkeys were divided into three groups: Controls fed isocaloric liquid diet; and Low and High ETOH animals fed liquid diet with vodka substituted isocalorically for carbohydrate at 12 and 24 of the calories, respectively. High ETOH primates had significantly more LDL lipid and protein while serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase was similar for the three groups. Although removal of 3H LDL cholesteryl ester (CE) from the plasma compartment was not affected by dietary ETOH, transfer of LDL CE to HDL was impaired in the High ETOH group suggesting a mechanism for the enlarged circulating pool of LDL. Transfer of 14C HDL CE to lower density lipoproteins was similar for the three groups. However, ETOH at both doses delayed clearance of radiolabeled HDL CE from circulation. Thus besides enhancing synthesis of lipoproteins, ETOH at a moderately high dose (24% of calories) influences lipoprotein levels in primates by modifying lipid transfer processes (LDL) as well as by altering clearance (HDL) without adversely affecting liver function.     

Uptake of type IV hypertriglyceridemic VLDL by cultured macrophages is enhanced by interferon-gamma.

Hypertriglyceridemic (HTG) very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) from subjects with type IV hyperlipoproteinemia induce both cholesteryl ester (CE) and triglyceride (TG) accumulation in cultured J774 macrophages. We examined whether the cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), which is expressed by lymphocytes in atherosclerotic lesions, would modulate macrophage uptake of HTG -VLDL. Incubation of cells with HTG -VLDL alone significantly increased cellular CE and TG mass 17- and 4.3-fold, respectively, while cellular free cholesterol (FC) was unaffected. Pre-incubation of cells with IFN-gamma (50 U/ml) prior to incubation with HTG -VLDL caused a marked enhancement in cellular CE and TG 27- and 6-fold over no additions (controls), respectively, and a 1.5-fold increase in FC. IFN-gamma increased low density lipoprotein (LDL)-induced cellular CE 2-fold compared to LDL alone. IFN-gamma did not enhance the uptake of type III (apoE2/E2) HTG -VLDL or VLDL from apoE knock-out mice. Incubations in the presence of a lipoprotein lipase (LPL) inhibitor or an acylCoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitor demonstrated that the IFN-gamma-enhanced HTG -VLDL uptake was dependent on LPL and ACAT activities. IFN-gamma significantly increased the binding and degradation of 125I-labeled LDL. Binding studies with 125I-labeled alpha2-macroglobulin, a known LDL receptor-related protein (LRP) ligand, and experiments with copper-oxidized LDL indicated that the IFN-gamma-enhanced uptake was not due to increased expression of the LRP or scavenger receptors. Thus, IFN-gamma may promote foam cell formation by accelerating macrophage uptake of native lipoproteins. IFN-gamma-stimulated CE accumulation in the presence of HTG -VLDL occurs via a process that requires receptor binding-competent apoE and active LPL. IFN-gamma-enhanced uptake of both HTG -VLDL and LDL is mediated by the LDL-receptor and requires ACAT-mediated cholesterol esterification.     

Lipid profiling of FPLC-separated lipoprotein fractions by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid species and their bioactive metabolites are important regulators of lipoprotein and cell function. The aim of the study was to develop a method for lipid species profiling of separated lipoprotein classes. Human serum lipoproteins VLDL, LDL, and HDL of 21 healthy fasting blood donors were separated by fast performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) from 50 microl serum. Subsequently, phosphatidylcholine (PC), lysophosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin (SM), ceramide (CER), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), PE-based plasmalogen (PE-pl), cholesterol, and cholesteryl ester (CE) content of the separated lipoproteins was quantified by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Analysis of FPLC fractions with PAGE demonstrated that albumin partially coelutes with HDL fractions. However, analysis of an HDL deficient serum (Tangier disease) showed that only lysophosphatidylcholine, but none of the other lipids analyzed, exhibited a significant coelution with the albumin containing fractions. Approximately 60% of lipoprotein CER were found in LDL fractions and 60% of PC, PE, and plasmalogens in HDL fractions. VLDL, LDL, and HDL displayed characteristic lipid class and species pattern. The developed method provides a detailed lipid class and species composition of lipoprotein fractions and may serve as a valuable tool to identify alterations of lipoprotein lipid species profiles in disease with a reasonable experimental effort.     

LDL and HDL enriched in triglyceride promote abnormal cholesterol transport

Hypertriglyceridemia induces multiple changes in lipoprotein composition. Here we investigate how one of these modifications, triglyceride (TG) enrichment, affects HDL and LDL function when this alteration occurs under conditions in which more polar components can naturally re-equilibrate. TG-enriched lipoproteins were produced by co-incubating VLDL, LDL, and HDL with cholesteryl ester (CE) transfer protein. The resulting 2.5-fold increase in TG/CE ratio did not measurably alter the apoprotein composition of LDL or HDL, or modify LDL size. HDL mean diameter increased slightly from 9.1 to 9.4 nm. Modified LDL was internalized by fibroblasts normally, but its protein was degraded much less efficiently. This likely reflects an aberrant apolipoprotein B (apoB) conformation, as suggested by its resistance to V8 protease digestion and altered LDL electrophoretic mobility. TG-enriched LDL ineffectively down-regulated cholesterol biosynthesis compared with control LDL at the same protein concentration, but was equivalent in sterol regulation when compared on a cholesterol basis. TG-enriched HDL promoted greater net cholesterol efflux from cholesterol-loaded J774 cells. However, cholesterol associated with TG-enriched HDL was inefficiently esterified by lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase, and TG-enriched HDLs were poor donors of CE to HepG2 hepatocytes by selective uptake. We conclude that TG-enrichment, in the absence of other significant alterations in lipoprotein composition, is sufficient to alter both cholesterol delivery and removal mechanisms. Some of these abnormalities may contribute to increased coronary disease in hypertriglyceridemia.     

Lipid and fatty acid composition of canine lipoproteins

Lipid classes and their fatty acids were studied in the major lipoprotein fractions from canine, in comparison with human, plasma. In dogs, high-density-lipoprotein (HDL), the main carrier of plasma phospholipid (PL), cholesterol ester (CE) and free cholesterol, was the most abundant lipoprotein, followed by low and very-low density lipoproteins (LDL and VLDL). Notably, LDL and VLDL contributed similarly to the total dog plasma triacylglycerol (TG). The PL composition was similar in all three lipoproteins, dominated by phosphatidylcholine (PC). Even though the content and composition of lipids within and among lipoproteins differed markedly between dog and man, the total amount of circulating lipid was similar. All canine lipoproteins were relatively richer than those from humans in long-chain (C20-C22) n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) but had comparable proportions of total saturated and monoenoic fatty acids, with 18:2n-6 being the main PUFA in both mammals. The fatty acid profile of canine and human lipoproteins differed because they had distinct proportions of their major lipids. There were more n-3 and n-6 long-chain PUFA in canine than in human plasma, because dogs had more HDL, their HDL had more PC and CE, and both these lipids were richer in such PUFA.     

Characterization of the core and surface of human plasma lipoproteins. A study based on the use of five fluorophores.

The physical properties of the core and the surface of five classes of human plasma lipoproteins were investigated using five fluorescent probes. The location of the fluorescence probes in the lipoprotein assembly was determined using collisional quenching and resonance energy transfer. The fluorophores monitor different regions of the lipoproteins, as shown by fluorescence quenching. Diphenylhexatriene (DPH) and methyl trans-parinaric acid (MTPA), which are apolar molecules, are localized mainly in the lipoprotein core. Their distribution into the surface is dependent upon the volume ratio of the hydrophobic part of the envelope and the core. The polar fluorophores, trimethylaminodiphenylhexatriene (TMADPH), hydroxycoumarin (HC) and trans-parinaric acid (TPA) are anchored in the glycerol skeleton region of the surface monolayer with the fluorophore group of HC in the headgroup region of the phospholipids. We determined the temperature-dependent steady-state fluorescence anisotropy (r) of these fluorophores in the four major classes of lipoproteins: VLDL, LDL, HDL2, HDL3 and in abnormal HDL from abetalipoproteinemia patients (HDLab). The hydrophobic probes, DPH and MTPA, reported the r values in the lipoproteins in the following order: LDL greater than HDL2 greater than HDL3 much greater than VLDL. This order correlates with the triglyceride-to-cholesterol ester (TG/CE) ratio in the core of lipoproteins. The polar probes HC, TPA and TMADPH reported the r value in a different order: HDL2, HDL3 greater than or equal to LDL much greater than VLDL. This is compatible with the decreasing order of the protein to lipid ratio in the envelope of these lipoproteins. HDLab was investigated by three fluorescent probes: DPH, TMADPH and HC. The anisotropy of DPH in HDLab was larger than that of either HDL2 or HDL3 in normal donors, probably due to the smaller TG/CE ratio in HDLab. The lower r values reported by HC and TMADPH for HDLab are not fully understood and may be related to other factors such as acyl chains composition. The characterization of lipoproteins by fluorescence depolarization using probes of known location in the lipoprotein assembly is very sensitive and may be used to report deviation from the norm.     

Effect of lipid transfer protein on plasma lipids, apolipoproteins and metabolism of high-density lipoprotein cholesteryl ester in the rat

The role of human plasma lipid transfer protein (LTP) in lipoprotein metabolism was studied in the rat, a species without endogenous cholesteryl ester and triacylglycerol transfer activity. Partially purified human LTP was injected intravenously into rats. The plasma activity was between 1.5- and 4-fold that of human plasma during the experiments. 6 h after the injection of LTP, a significant increase in serum apoB, and no significant changes in serum total cholesterol, free cholesterol, triacylglycerols, apoA-I, apoE, or apoA-IV were noted. Cholesterol was increased in very-low density and low-density lipoproteins (VLDL and LDL) and decreased in large-sized apoE-rich HDL. ApoA-I-containing particles with a size smaller than in normal rats were present in serum of LTP-treated rats. The mean diameter of HDL particles decreased and apoE, normally present on large-sized HDL, was present on smaller sized particles. The metabolic fate of cholesteryl ester, originally associated with HDL, was studied by injection of [3H]cholesteryl linoleyl ether-labelled apoA-I-rich HDL in the absence and in the presence of LTP. The disappearance of [3H]cholesteryl linoleyl ether, injected as part of apoA-I-rich HDL, from serum was increased in the LTP-treated rats; the t1/2 changed from 3.9 to 2.2 h, resulting in an increased accumulation of [3H]cholesteryl linoleyl ether in the liver. This can be explained by the redistribution of HDL [3H]cholesteryl linoleyl ether to VLDL and LDL in the presence of LTP, leading to the combined contribution of VLDL, LDL and HDL to the hepatic uptake. The present findings show profound effects of LTP on the chemical composition of HDL subspecies, the size of HDL and on the plasma turnover and hepatic uptake of cholesteryl esters originally present in apo A-I-rich HDL.     

Structural peculiarities of the binding of very low density lipoproteins and low density lipoproteins to the LDL receptor in hypertriglyceridemia: role of apolipoprotein E

Very low (VLDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) were isolated from plasma of patients with the E3/3 phenotype which were divided into three groups based on their plasma triglyceride content: low (TG<200 mg/dl, TG(l)), intermediate (200<300 mg/dl, TG(i)300 mg/dl, TG(h)). The protein density (PD) on the VLDL and LDL surface was calculated from lipoprotein composition and protein location was studied by tryptophan fluorescence quenching by I(-) anions at 25 degrees C and 40 degrees C. A comparison of the TG(h) with the TG(l) group revealed a significant (<0.05) increase of the PD parameter as much as 21% for VLDL, but not for LDL where this parameter did not change for any group; generally, PD(LDL) values were 3.2-3.8-fold lower than PD(VLDL). In accordance with this difference, the tryptophan accessibility f in VLDL vs. LDL was lower at both temperatures. There were temperature-induced changes of the f parameter in opposite directions for these lipoproteins. The difference in f value gradually decreased for VLDL in the direction TG(l)TG(i)TG(h) while for LDL there was a U-shaped dependence for these groups. The Stern-Volmer quenching constant K(S-V) which is sensitive to both temperature and viscosity, did not change for VLDL, but K(S-V)(LDL) was 2-3-fold higher for the TG(i) group compared to the other two. The efficiencies of VLDL and LDL binding to the LDL receptor (LDLr) in vitro were compared by solid-phase assay free of steric hindrance observed in cell binding. The maximal number of binding sites did not change for either type of particles and between groups. The association constant K(a) and apolipoprotein (apo) E/apoB mole ratio values all increased significantly for VLDL, but not for LDL, in comparison of the TG(i+h) with the TG(l) group. Based on VLDL and LDL concentrations in serum and on the affinity constant values obtained in an in vitro assay, VLDL concentrations corresponding to 50% inhibition of LDL binding (IC(50)) were calculated in an assumption of the competition of both ligands for LDLr in vivo; the mean values of IC(50) decreased 2-fold when plasma TG exceeded 200 mg/dl. The functional dependences of K(a)(VLDL), IC(50) and apoE content in VLDL (both fractional and absolute) and in serum on TG content in the whole concentration range studied were fitted to a saturation model. For all five parameters, the mean half-maximum values TG(1/2) were in the range 52-103 mg/dl. The efficiency of protein-protein interactions is suggested to differ in normolipidemic vs. HTG-VLDL and apoE content and/or protein density on VLDL surface may be the primary determinant(s) of the increased binding of HTG-VLDL to the LDL receptor. ApoCs may compete with apoE for the binding to the VLDL lipid surface as plasma triglyceride content increases. The possible competition of VLDL with LDL for the catabolism site(s) in vivo, when plasma TG increases, could explain the atherogenic action of TG-rich lipoproteins. Moreover, the 'dual action' hypothesis on anti-atherogenic action of apoE-containing high density lipoproteins (HDL) in vivo is suggested: besides the well-known effect of HDL as cholesteryl ester catabolic outway, the formation of a transient complex of apoE-containing discs appearing at the site of VLDL TG hydrolysis by lipoprotein lipase with VLDL particles proposed in our preceding paper promotes the efficient uptake of TG-rich particles; in hypertriglyceridemia due to the diminished HDL content this uptake seems to be impaired which results in the increased accumulation of the remnants of TG-rich particles. This explains the observed increase in cholesterol and triglyceride content in VLDL and LDL, respectively, due to the CETP-mediated exchange of cholesteryl ester and triglyceride molecules between these particles.     

Proteinuria increases oxylipid concentrations in VLDL and HDL but not LDL particles in the rat

We previously established that proteinuria alters the apolipoprotein content of lipoproteins. This study was conducted to establish whether proteinuria also alters the concentrations of oxidized lipids within lipoprotein density fractions. To this end, we induced passive Heymann nephritis in Sprague Dawley rats and measured an array of alkaline-stable oxylipids in VLDL, LDL, and HDL particles. Proteinuria increased the total oxylipid amounts in the HDL and VLDL fractions. More importantly, these levels were increased when expressed per unit lipoprotein protein, indicating that the oxidized lipid load per particle was increased. Epoxides and diols increased approximately 2-fold in HDL and approximately 5-fold in VLDL, whereas LDL showed approximately 2-fold decreases. The hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids and hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (HODEs) increased >4-fold in HDL and >20-fold in VLDL, whereas LDL showed approximately 2-fold decreases in the HODEs. Therefore, nephrotic syndrome alters the lipoprotein oxylipid composition independently of an increase in total lipoprotein levels. These proteinuria-induced changes may be associated with the cardiovascular risk of lipoprotein oxidation.     

Insect lipid transfer particle can facilitate net vectorial lipid transfer via a carrier-mediated mechanism.

The mechanism of facilitated lipid transfer by insect or mammalian plasma lipid transfer proteins has not been elucidated. Transfer catalysts may act as carriers of lipid between donor and acceptor lipoproteins or, alternatively, transfer may require formation of a ternary complex. This study was designed to determine if Manduca sexta hemolymph lipid transfer particle (LTP) can facilitate net vectorial transfer of lipid without concomitant contact between donor and acceptor lipoproteins and LTP. M. sexta [3H]diacylglycerol-high density lipophorin-larval ([3H]DAG-HDLp-L) and human low density lipoprotein (LDL) were covalently bound to Sepharose matrices and packed into separate columns. In incubations lacking LTP, greater than 98% of the recovered DAG remained associated with HDLp-L. An unrelated hemolymph storage protein, arylphorin, was unable to catalyze the transfer of DAG between solid-phase lipoproteins. Facilitated transfer of DAG from HDLp-L to LDL was observed when LTP was circulated between the columns. Under these conditions, facilitated transfer occurred at a rate of 2.24 ng of DAG/h (versus 0.16 microgram of DAG/h in the control), and after 16 h greater than 26% of recovered labeled DAG was transferred to LDL. This corresponds to a 14-fold rate enhancement induced by LTP. The LTP-specific transfer of DAG between physically separated lipoproteins demonstrates the ability of LTP to facilitate net lipid transfer via a carrier-mediated mechanism in the absence of a ternary complex involving donor, acceptor, and catalyst. In experiments aimed at assessing the relative contribution of ternary complex formation to DAG transfer, acceptor LDL was circulated with HDLp-L remaining immobilized. Under these conditions, LTP induced a 13-fold rate enhancement from 1.3 to 16.3 micrograms of DAG/h. The similar rate enhancements observed with both lipoproteins bound and only donor bound suggest the overall contribution of ternary complex formation to facilitated lipid transfer is insignificant. The described system should prove useful in mechanistic studies of other transfer proteins as well as studies of transfer of other lipids.     

Low density lipoproteins develop resistance to oxidative modification due to inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein by a monoclonal antibody

Although numerous studies have investigated the relationship between cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) remodeling, the relationship between CETP and low density lipoproteins (LDL) is still not fully understood. In the present study, we examined the effect of the inhibition of CETP on both LDL oxidation and the uptake of the oxidized LDL, which were made from LDL under condition of CETP inhibition, by macrophages using a monoclonal antibody (mAb) to CETP in incubated plasma. The 6-h incubation of plasma derived from healthy, fasting human subjects led to the transfer of cholesteryl ester (CE) from HDL to VLDL and LDL, and of triglycerides (TG) from VLDL to HDL and LDL. These net mass transfers of neutral lipids among the lipoproteins were eliminated by the mAb. The incubation of plasma either with or without the mAb did not affect the phospholipid compositions in any lipoproteins. As a result, the LDL fractionated from the plasma incubated with the mAb contained significantly less CE and TG in comparison to the LDL fractionated from the plasma incubated without the mAb. The percentage of fatty acid composition of LDL did not differ among the unincubated plasma, the plasma incubated with the mAb, and that incubated without the mAb. When LDL were oxidized with CuSO4, the LDL fractionated from the plasma incubated with the mAb were significantly resistant to the oxidative modification determined by measuring the amount of TBARS and by continuously monitoring the formation of the conjugated dienes, in comparison to the LDL fractionated from the plasma incubated without the mAb. The accumulation of cholesteryl ester of oxidized LDL, which had been oxidized for 2 h with CuSO4, in J774.1 cells also decreased significantly in the LDL fractionated from the plasma incubated with mAb in comparison to the LDL fractionated from the plasma incubated without the mAb. These results indicate that CETP inhibition reduces the composition of CE and TG in LDL and makes the LDL resistant to oxidation. In addition, the uptake of the oxidized LDL, which was made from the LDL under condition of CETP inhibition, by macrophages also decreased.     

Increased concentration of plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein in nephrotic syndrome: role in dyslipidemia.

Hyperlipidemia is a prominent feature of the nephrotic syndrome. Lipoprotein abnormalities include increased very low and low density lipoprotein (VLDL and LDL) cholesterol and variable reductions in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. We hypothesized that plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), which influences the distribution of cholesteryl esters among the lipoproteins, might contribute to lipoprotein abnormalities in nephrotic syndrome. Plasma CETP, apolipoprotein and lipoprotein concentrations were measured in 14 consecutive untreated and 7 treated nephrotic patients, 5 patients with primary hypertriglyceridemia, and 18 normolipidemic controls. Patients with nephrotic syndrome displayed increased plasma concentrations of apoB, VLDL, and LDL cholesterol. The VLDL was enriched with cholesteryl ester (CE), shown by a CE/triglyceride (TG) ratio approximately twice that in normolipidemic or hypertriglyceridemic controls (P < 0.001). Plasma CETP concentration was increased in patients with untreated nephrotic syndrome compared to controls (3.6 vs. 2.3 mg/l, P < 0.001), and was positively correlated with the CE concentration in VLDL (r = 0.69, P = 0.004) and with plasma apoB concentration (r = 0.68, P = 0.007). Treatment with corticosteroids resulted in normalization of plasma CETP and of the CE/TG ratio in VLDL. An inverse correlation between plasma CETP and HDL cholesterol was observed in hypertriglyceridemic nephrotic syndrome patients (r = -0.67, P = 0.03). The dyslipidemia of nephrotic syndrome includes increased levels of apoB-lipoproteins and VLDL that are unusually enriched in CE and likely to be atherogenic. Increased plasma CETP probably plays a significant role in the enrichment of VLDL with CE, and may also contribute to increased concentrations of apoB-lipoproteins and decreased HDL cholesterol in some patients.     

Modification of CETP function by changing its substrate preference: a new paradigm for CETP drug design

We previously determined that hamster cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), unlike human CETP, promotes a novel one-way transfer of TG from VLDL to HDL, causing HDL to gain lipid. We hypothesize that this nonreciprocal lipid transfer activity arises from the usually high TG/cholesteryl ester (CE) substrate preference of hamster CETP. Consistent with this, we report here that ∼25% of the total lipid transfer promoted by the human Q199A CETP mutant, which prefers TG as substrate, is nonreciprocal transfer. Other human CETP mutants with TG/CE substrate preferences higher or lower than wild-type also possess nonreciprocal lipid transfer activity. Mutants with high TG/CE substrate preference promote the nonreciprocal lipid transfer of TG from VLDL to HDL, but mutants with low TG/CE substrate preference promote the nonreciprocal lipid transfer of CE, not TG, and this lipid flow is in the reverse direction (from HDL to VLDL). Anti-CETP TP2 antibody alters the TG/CE substrate preference of CETP and also changes the extent of nonreciprocal lipid transfer, showing the potential for externally acting agents to modify the transfer properties of CETP. Overall, these data show that the lipid transfer properties of CETP can be manipulated. Function-altering pharmaceuticals may offer a novel approach to modify CETP activity and achieve specific modifications in lipoprotein metabolism.     

Impaired plasma cholesteryl ester transfer with accumulation of larger high density lipoproteins in some families of baboons (Papio sp.)

Baboons from some families have a higher concentration of plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL) on a chow diet and accumulate large HDL (HDL1) when challenged with a high cholesterol and high saturated fat (HCHF) diet. HDL1 from high HDL1 animals contained more (1.5-fold) cholesteryl ester than HDL (HDL2 + HDL3) from high or low HDL1 animals. HDL from high HDL1 baboons had lower triglyceride content than that from low HDL1 baboons. HDL3 or HDL labeled with [3H]cholesteryl linoleate was incubated with entire lipoprotein fraction (d less than 1.21 g/ml) or very low density lipoprotein + low density lipoprotein (VLDL + LDL) (d less than 1.045 g/ml) and with lipoprotein-deficient serum (LPDS), and the radioactive cholesteryl ester and mass floating at d 1.045 g/ml (VLDL + LDL) after the incubation was measured. The transfer of cholesteryl esters from either HDL or HDL3, prepared from plasma of high HDL1 animals fed chow or the HCHF diet, was slower than the transfer from either HDL or HDL3 of low HDL1 animals, regardless of the source of transfer activity or the ratio of LDL:HDL-protein used in the assay. Addition of HDL from high HDL1 baboons into an assay mixture of plasma components from low HDL1 baboons decreased the transfer of cholesteryl ester radioactivity and mass from HDL to VLDL and LDL. In addition to HDL, a fraction of intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) and denser HDL were also effective in inhibiting the transfer. These observations suggest that accumulation of HDL1 in high HDL1 baboons fed an HCHF diet is associated with a slower transfer of cholesteryl esters from HDL to LDL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Conversion of human low density lipoprotein into a very low density lipoprotein-like particle in vitro.

The lipid substrate specificity of Manduca sexta lipid transfer particle (LTP) was examined in in vitro lipid transfer assays employing high density lipophorin and human low density lipoprotein (LDL) as donor/acceptor substrates. Unesterified cholesterol was found to exchange spontaneously between these substrate lipoproteins, and the extent of transfer/exchange was not affected by LTP. By contrast, transfer of labeled phosphatidylcholine and cholesteryl ester was dependent on LTP in a concentration-dependent manner. Facilitated phosphatidylcholine transfer occurred at a faster rate than facilitated cholesteryl ester transfer; this observation suggests that either LTP may have an inherent preference for polar lipids or the accessibility of specific lipids in the donor substrate particle influences their rate of transfer. The capacity of LDL to accept exogenous lipid from lipophorin was investigated by increasing the high density lipophorin:LDL ratio in transfer assays. At a 3:1 (protein) ratio in the presence of LTP, LDL became turbid (and aggregated LDL were observed by electron microscopy) indicating LDL has a finite capacity to accept exogenous lipid while maintaining an overall stable structure. When either isolated human non B very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) apoproteins or insect apolipophorin III (apoLp-III) were included in transfer experiments, the sample did not become turbid although lipid transfer proceeded to the same extent as in the absence of added apolipoprotein. The reduction in sample turbidity caused by exogenous apolipoprotein occurred in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting that these proteins associate with the surface of LDL and stabilize the increment of lipid/water interface created by LTP-mediated net lipid transfer. The association of apolipoprotein with the surface of modified LDL was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis, and scanning densitometry revealed that apoLp-III bound to the surface of LDL in a 1:14 apoB:apoLp-III molar ratio. Electron microscopy showed that apoLp-III-stabilized modified LDL particles have a larger diameter (29.2 +/- 2.6 nm) than that of control LDL (22.7 +/- 1.9 nm), consistent with the observed changes in particle density, lipid, and apolipoprotein content. Thus LTP-catalyzed vectorial lipid transfer can be used to introduce significant modifications into isolated LDL particles and provides a novel mechanism whereby VLDL-LDL interrelationships can be studied.     

Very low and low density lipoprotein synthesis and secretion by the human hepatoma cell line Hep-G2: effects of free fatty acid

The liver is a major source of the plasma lipoproteins; however, direct studies of the regulation of lipoprotein synthesis and secretion by human liver are lacking. Dense monolayers of Hep-G2 cells incorporated radiolabeled precursors into protein ([35S]methionine), cholesterol ([3H]mevalonate and [14C]acetate), triacylglycerol, and phospholipid ([3H]glycerol), and secreted them as lipoproteins. In the absence of free fatty acid in the media, the principal lipoprotein secretory product that accumulated had a density maximum of 1.039 g/ml, similar to serum low density lipoprotein (LDL). ApoB-100 represented greater than 95% of the radiolabeled apoprotein of these particles, with only traces of apoproteins A and E present. Inclusion of 0.8 mM oleic acid in the media resulted in a 54% reduction in radiolabeled triacylglycerol in the LDL fraction and a 324% increase in triacylglycerol in the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) fraction. Similar changes occurred in the secretion of newly synthesized apoB-100. The VLDL contained apoB-100 as well as apoE. In the absence of exogenous free fatty acid, the radiolabeled cholesterol was recovered in both the LDL and the high density lipoprotein (HDL) regions. Oleic acid caused a 50% decrease in HDL radiolabeled cholesterol and increases of radiolabeled cholesterol in VLDL and LDL. In general, less than 15% of the radiolabeled cholesterol was esterified, despite the presence of cholesteryl ester in the cell. Incubation with oleic acid did not cause an increase in the total amount of radiolabeled lipid or protein secreted. We conclude that human liver-derived cells can secrete distinct VLDL and LDL-like particles, and the relative amounts of these lipoproteins are determined, at least in part, by the availability of free fatty acid.