High density lipoprotein stimulates sterol translocation between intracellular and plasma membrane pools in human monocyte-derived macrophages

Binding of high density lipoprotein (HDL) to its receptor on cultured fibroblasts and aortic endothelial cells was previously shown to facilitate sterol efflux by initiation of translocation of intracellular sterol to the plasma membrane. After cholesterol-loaded human monocyte-derived macrophages were incubated with either [3H]mevalonolactone or lipoprotein-associated [3H]cholesteryl ester to radiolabel intracellular pools of sterol, incubation with HDL3 led to stimulation of 3H-labeled sterol translocation from intracellular sites to the cell surface which preceeded maximum 3H-labeled sterol efflux. A similar pattern was demonstrated for macrophages that were preloaded with cholesterol derived from either low density lipoprotein (LDL), acetyl-LDL, or phospholipase C-modified LDL. However, in macrophages that were not loaded with cholesterol, HDL3 stimulated net movement of 3H-labeled sterol from the plasma membrane into intracellular compartments, the opposite direction from that seen for cholesterol-loaded cells. A similar influx pattern was found in nonloaded macrophages and fibroblasts that were labeled with trace amounts of exogenous [3H]cholesterol. Cholesterol translocation from intracellular pools to the cell surface of cholesterol-loaded macrophages appeared to be stimulated by receptor binding of HDL, since chemical modification of HDL with tetranitromethane (TNM), which abolishes its receptor binding, reduced its ability to stimulate 3H-labeled sterol translocation and efflux. In nonloaded cells, however, the ability of HDL3 to stimulate sterol efflux and movement of sterol from the plasma membrane into intracellular pools was unaffected by TNM modification. Thus, binding of HDL to its receptor on cholesterol-loaded macrophages appears to promote translocation of intracellular cholesterol to the plasma membrane followed by cholesterol efflux into the medium. However, in nonloaded macrophages, HDL stimulates sterol movement from the plasma membrane into intracellular pools by a receptor-independent process.     

Effects of sphingomyelin degradation on cholesterol mobilization and efflux to high-density lipoproteins in cultured fibroblasts

The hydrolysis of sphingomyelin from cellular plasma membranes imposes many consequences on cellular cholesterol homeostasis by causing a rapid and dramatic redistribution of plasma membrane cholesterol within the cells (Slotte, J.P. and Bierman, E.L. (1988) Biochem. J. 250, 653-658). The objective of this study was to examine the effects of an extracellular cholesterol acceptor on the directions of the sphingomyelinase-induced cholesterol flow in cultured fibroblasts. We have used HDL3 as a physiological acceptor for cholesterol, and measured the effects of sphingomyelin hydrolysis on efflux and endogenous esterification of cellular [3H]cholesterol. Treatment of cells with sphingomyelinase did induce a dramatically increased esterification of plasma-membrane-derived [3H]cholesterol. The presence of HDL3 in the medium (100 micrograms/ml) did not prevent or reduce the extent of the sphingomyelinase-induced cellular esterification of [3H]cholesterol. Degradation of cellular sphingomyelin (75% hydrolysis) also did not enhance the rate of [3H]cholesterol efflux from the plasma membranes to HDL3. In addition, we also observed that the degradation of sphingomyelin in the HDL3 particles (complete degradation) did not change the apparent rate of [3H]cholesterol transfer from HDL3 to the cells. These findings together indicate that hydrolysis of sphingomyelin did not markedly affect the rates of cholesterol surface transfer between HDL3 and cells. By whatever mechanism cholesterol is forced to be translocated from the plasma membranes subsequent to the degradation of sphingomyelin, it appears that the sterol flow is specifically directed towards the interior of the cells.     

Scavenger receptor class B, type I-mediated [3H]cholesterol efflux to high and low density lipoproteins is dependent on lipoprotein binding to the receptor

The murine scavenger receptor class B, type I (mSR-BI) is a receptor for high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and acetylated LDL (AcLDL). It mediates selective uptake of lipoprotein lipid and stimulates efflux of [(3)H]cholesterol to lipoproteins. SR-BI-mediated [(3)H]cholesterol efflux was proposed to be independent of ligand binding. In this study, using anti-mSR-BI antibody KKB-1 and two mSR-BI mutants with altered ligand binding properties, we demonstrated that SR-BI-mediated [(3)H]cholesterol efflux to lipoproteins was correlated with ligand binding and lipid uptake activities of the receptor. The KKB-1 antibody, which blocked lipoprotein binding without substantially altering the cholesterol oxidase-accessible cellular [(3)H]cholesterol, also blocked [(3)H]cholesterol efflux to HDL and LDL. One of the SR-BI mutants, which has a double substitution of arginines for glutamines at positions 402 and 418 (Q402R/Q418R), exhibited a high level of LDL binding and lipid uptake from LDL, but lost most of the corresponding HDL receptor activity. This mutant could mediate efficient [(3)H]cholesterol efflux to LDL, but not to HDL. Another mutant, M158R, with an arginine in place of methionine at position 158, exhibited reduced HDL and LDL receptor activities, but apparently normal AcLDL receptor activity. This mutant could mediate efficient [(3)H]cholesterol efflux to AcLDL, but not to HDL or LDL. These results suggest that SR-BI-stimulated [(3)H]cholesterol efflux to lipoproteins critically depends on ligand binding to this receptor and raise the possibility that the mechanisms of selective lipid uptake and [(3)H]cholesterol efflux may be intimately related.     

Protein kinase C as a mediator of high density lipoprotein receptor-dependent efflux of intracellular cholesterol.

The interaction of high density lipoproteins (HDL) with the HDL receptor stimulates the translocation of cholesterol from intracellular pools to the plasma membrane where the cholesterol becomes available for removal by appropriate acceptors. The role of signal transduction through protein kinase C in HDL receptor-dependent cholesterol translocation and efflux was examined using cholesterol-loaded cultured human skin fibroblasts. Treatment of cells with HDL3 activated protein kinase C, demonstrated by a transient increase in membrane associated kinase activity. Kinase activation appeared to be dependent on binding of HDL3 to the HDL receptor, since tetranitromethane-modified HDL3, which does not bind to the receptor, was without effect. Translocation of intracellular sterol to the plasma membrane was stimulated by treatment of cells with the protein kinase C activators, dioctanoylglycerol and phorbol myristic acetate, and the calcium ionophore A23187. Conversely, treatment of cells with sphingosine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, reduced HDL3-mediated translocation and efflux of intracellular sterols. However, sphingosine had no effect on efflux of labeled cholesterol derived from the plasma membrane. Down-regulation of cellular protein kinase C activity by long term incubation with phorbol esters also inhibited HDL3-mediated efflux of intracellular sterols and abolished the ability of sphingosine to further inhibit HDL3-mediated efflux. These studies support the conclusion that HDL receptor-mediated translocation and efflux of intracellular cholesterol occurs through activation of protein kinase C.     

The efflux of lysosomal cholesterol from cells

To gain insight into the transport of sterol from lysosomes to the plasma membrane, we studied the efflux of lysosomal free cholesterol from intact Fu5AH rat hepatoma cells to high density lipoprotein (HDL) and other extracellular acceptors that promote sterol desorption from the plasma membrane. The procedures involved pulsing cells at 15 degrees C with low density lipoprotein that had been reconstituted with [3H]cholesteryl oleate and then incubating the cells at 37 degrees C in the presence of a sterol acceptor, while monitoring both the hydrolysis of [3H]cholesteryl oleate in lysosomes and the efflux of the resulting [3H]free cholesterol to the acceptor. After warming cells to 37 degrees C, rapid hydrolysis of [3H]cholesteryl oleate began after 10-20 min, and the lysosomally generated [3H]free cholesterol became available for efflux after an additional delay of 40-50 min. The kinetics of hydrolysis and the delay between hydrolysis and efflux were unchanged over a wide range of HDL3 concentrations (10-1000 micrograms of protein/ml), and with acceptors that do not interact with HDL-specific cell surface binding sites (phospholipid vesicles, dimethyl suberimidate cross-linked HDL). In addition, the delivery of lysosomal cholesterol to the plasma membrane was unaffected when cellular cholesterol content was elevated 2.6-fold above the normal control level, or when the activity of cellular acyl-coenzyme A/cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) was stimulated with exogenous oleic acid. We conclude that in the Fu5AH cell, a maximum of 40-50 min is required for the transport of cholesterol from lysosomes to the plasma membrane and that this transport is not regulated in response to either specific extracellular acceptors or the content of sterol in cells. The lack of effect of increased ACAT activity implies that the pathway for this transport does not involve passage of sterol through the rough endoplasmic reticulum, the subcellular location of ACAT.     

Impaired capacity of acute-phase high density lipoprotein particles to deliver cholesteryl ester to the human HUH-7 hepatoma cell line

The major role of native high density lipoprotein (HDL) is to carry cholesterol from peripheral tissues to the liver for bile excretion. As acute-phase (AP)-HDL has a decreased ability for cellular cholesterol efflux but an increased capacity for cholesteryl ester (CE) delivery to peripheral tissues, the interaction of AP-HDL with human hepatoma cells was studied. Binding studies to HUH-7 cells revealed saturable binding properties for HDL and AP-HDL at 4 degrees C. At 37 degrees C, specific cell-association of (125)I- and [1,2,6,7-(3)H]-cholesteryl palmitate ([(3)H]CE)-labeled lipoprotein particles was 2.2- and 1.6-fold higher for HDL indicating that total CE delivery was significantly (P<0.05) higher for HDL in comparison to AP-HDL. In parallel, selective CE uptake (the difference between total lipid uptake and holoparticle uptake) from AP-HDL was decreased compared with HDL. The fact that the capacity for cellular cholesterol efflux from HUH-7 cells is slightly impaired by AP-HDL (compared with HDL) is of support that scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI), the only receptor so far known to mediate bi-directional lipid flux, might be involved in altered HUH-7 cholesterol hemostasis by AP-HDL. Our in vitro findings suggest that HDL and AP-HDL interact differently with cells of hepatic origin resulting in decreased hepatic cholesterol removal from the circulation during the AP reaction.     

The intracellular transport of low density lipoprotein-derived cholesterol is defective in Niemann-Pick type C fibroblasts

Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is characterized by substantial intracellular accumulation of unesterified cholesterol. The accumulation of unesterified cholesterol in NPC fibroblasts cultured with low density lipoprotein (LDL) appears to result from the inability of LDL to stimulate cholesterol esterification in addition to impaired LDL-mediated downregulation of LDL receptor activity and cellular cholesterol synthesis. Although a defect in cholesterol transport in NPC cells has been inferred from previous studies, no experiments have been reported that measure the intracellular movement of LDL-cholesterol specifically. We have used four approaches to assess intracellular cholesterol transport in normal and NPC cells and have determined the following: (a) mevinolin-inhibited NPC cells are defective in using LDL-cholesterol for growth. However, exogenously added mevalonate restores cell growth equally in normal and NPC cells; (b) the transport of LDL-derived [3H]cholesterol to the plasma membrane is slower in NPC cells, while the rate of appearance of [3H]acetate-derived, endogenously synthesized [3H]cholesterol at the plasma membrane is the same for normal and NPC cells; (c) in NPC cells, LDL-derived [3H]cholesterol accumulates in lysosomes to higher levels than normal, resulting in defective movement to other cell membranes; and (d) incubation of cells with LDL causes an increase in cholesterol content of NPC lysosomes that is threefold greater than that observed in normal lysosomes. Our results indicate that a cholesterol transport defect exists in NPC that is specific for LDL-derived cholesterol.     

ABCA1 and scavenger receptor class B,type I,are modulators of reverse sterol transport at an in vitro blood-brain barrier constituted of porcine brain capillary endothelial cells

The objective of the present study was to investigate the involvement of key players in reverse cholesterol/24(S)OH-cholesterol transport in primary porcine brain capillary endothelial cells (pBCEC) that constitute the BBB. We identified that, in addition to scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI), pBCEC express ABCA1 and apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) mRNA and protein. Studies on the regulation of ABCA1 by the liver X receptor agonist 24(S)OH-cholesterol revealed increased ABCA1 expression and apoA-I-dependent [3H]cholesterol efflux from pBCEC. In unpolarized pBCEC, high density lipoprotein, subclass 3 (HDL3)-dependent [3H]cholesterol efflux, was unaffected by 24(S)OH-cholesterol treatment but was enhanced 5-fold in SR-BI overexpressing pBCEC. Efflux of cellular 24(S)-[3H]OH-cholesterol was highly efficient, independent of ABCA1, and correlated with SR-BI expression. Polarized pBCEC were cultured on porous membrane filters that allow separate access to the apical and the basolateral compartment. Addition of cholesterol acceptors to the apical compartment resulted in preferential [3H]cholesterol efflux to the basolateral compartment. HDL3 was a better promoter of basolateral [3H]cholesterol efflux than lipid-free apoA-I. Basolateral pretreatment with 24(S)OH-cholesterol enhanced apoA-I-dependent basolateral cholesterol efflux up to 2-fold along with the induction of ABCA1 at the basolateral membrane. Secretion of apoA-I also occurred preferentially to the basolateral compartment, where the majority of apoA-I was recovered in an HDL-like density range. In contrast, 24(S)-[3H]OH-cholesterol was mobilized efficiently to the apical compartment of the in vitro BBB by HDL3, low density lipoprotein, and serum. These results suggest the existence of an autoregulatory mechanism for removal of potentially neurotoxic 24(S)OH-cholesterol. In conclusion, the apoA-I/ABCA1- and HDL/SR-BI-dependent pathways modulate polarized sterol mobilization at the BBB.     

Efflux of lipid from fibroblasts to apolipoproteins: dependence on elevated levels of cellular unesterified cholesterol.

Earlier work from this laboratory showed that enrichment of cells with free cholesterol enhanced the efflux of phospholipid to lipoprotein acceptors, suggesting that cellular phospholipid may contribute to high density lipoprotein (HDL) structure and the removal of sterol from cells. To test this hypothesis, we examined the efflux of [3H]cholesterol (FC) and [32P]phospholipid (PL) from control and cholesterol-enriched fibroblasts to delipidated apolipoproteins. The percentages of [3H]cholesterol and [32P]phospholipid released from control cells to human apolipoprotein A-I were 2.2 +/- 0.5%/24 h and 0.8 +/- 0.1%/24 h, respectively. When the cellular cholesterol content was doubled, efflux of both lipids increased substantially ([3H]FC efflux = 14.6 +/- 3.6%/24 h and [32P]PL efflux = 4.1 +/- 0.3%/24 h). Phosphatidylcholine accounted for 70% of the radiolabeled phospholipid released from cholesterol-enriched cells. The cholesterol to phospholipid molar ratio of the lipid released from cholesterol-enriched cells was approximately 1. This ratio remained constant throughout an incubation time of 3 to 48 h, suggesting that there was a coordinate release of both lipids. The concentrations of apoA-I, A-II, A-IV, E, and Cs that promoted half-maximal efflux of phospholipid from cholesterol-enriched fibroblasts were 53, 30, 68, 137, and 594 nM, respectively. With apoA-I and A-IV, these values for half-maximal efflux of phospholipid were identical to the concentrations that resulted in half-maximal efflux of cholesterol. Agarose gel electrophoresis of medium containing apoA-I that had been incubated with cholesterol-enriched fibroblasts revealed a particle with alpha to pre-beta mobility. We conclude that the cholesterol content of cellular membranes is an important determinant in the ability of apolipoproteins to promote lipid removal from cells. We speculate that apolipoproteins access cholesterol-phosphatidylcholine domains within the plasma membrane of cholesterol-enriched cells, whereupon HDL is generated in the extracellular compartment. The release of cellular lipid to apolipoproteins may serve as a protective mechanism against the potentially damaging effects of excess membrane cholesterol.     

The molecular structure of apolipoprotein A-II modulates the capacity of HDL to promote cell cholesterol efflux

The influence of apolipoprotein A-II (apoA-II) molecular structure on the capacity of high density lipoproteins (HDL) to promote cellular cholesterol efflux was investigated in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM). Conversion by reduction and carboxamidomethylation of the naturally occurring dimeric apoA-II to its monomeric form in both native or reconstituted HDL did not change apolipoprotein secondary structure and lipoprotein size/composition. All particles containing monomeric apoA-II, i.e., native HDL₃ or reconstituted HDL with or without apoA-I, showed a higher ability to promote cholesterol efflux originating from plasma membrane and intracellular stores, compared to particles containing dimeric apoA-II. These findings indicate that apolipoprotein molecular structure is a major determinant of HDL capacity to promote cholesterol efflux from cells.     

Binding of high density lipoprotein to cultured fibroblasts after chemical alteration of apoprotein amino acid residues

Cultured extrahepatic cells possess a specific high affinity binding site (receptor) for high density lipoprotein (HDL) that is induced by cholesterol delivery to cells. To characterize the binding recognition site(s) on HDL, the ability of HDL to interact with cultured human fibroblasts was assayed after chemical alteration of specific apoprotein amino acid residues. Reduction and alkylation, acetylation, and cyclohexanedione treatment of HDL3 had little or no effect on its cellular binding. Treatment of HDL3 with tetranitromethane (TNM), however, caused a large dose-dependent decrease in binding, with maximum inhibition at 3 mM. Amino acid analysis of the TNM-treated particles showed specific alteration of tyrosine residues, but sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis demonstrated apoprotein cross-linking coincident with decreased binding. These results suggest that modification of HDL tyrosine residues and/or cross-linking of HDL apoproteins alters the ligand site recognized by the HDL receptor. Gradient gel electrophoresis, molecular sieve chromatography, and electron microscopy showed only minor changes in size distribution and shape of HDL3 particles after treatment with 3 mM TNM, but at higher TNM concentrations, coalescence and aggregation of particles was evident. Treatment of HDL3 with 3 mM TNM affected neither its promotion of the low affinity (receptor-independent) cholesterol efflux from cells nor its ability to accept cholesterol from an albumin suspension, yet promotion of high affinity (receptor-dependent) cholesterol efflux from cells was abolished. The finding that TNM treatment of HDL3 decreases both its receptor binding and its promotion of cholesterol efflux from cells without substantial alteration of its physical properties supports the hypothesis that the HDL receptor functions to facilitate cholesterol transport from cells.     

Scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI) mediates free cholesterol flux independently of HDL tethering to the cell surface

In addition to its effect on high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesteryl ester (CE) uptake, scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI) was recently reported to stimulate free cholesterol (FC) flux from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably expressing mouse SR-BI, a novel function of SR-BI that may play a role in cholesterol removal from the vessel wall where the receptor can be found. It is possible that SR-BI stimulates flux simply by tethering acceptor HDL particles in close apposition to the cell surface thereby facilitating the movement of cholesterol between the plasma membrane and HDL. To test this, we used transiently transfected cells and compared the closely related class B scavenger receptors mouse SR-BI and rat CD36 for their ability to stimulate cholesterol efflux as both receptors bind HDL with high affinity. The results showed that, although acceptor binding to SR-BI may contribute to efflux to a modest extent, the major stimulation of FC efflux occurs independently of acceptor binding to cell surface receptors. Instead our data indicate that SR-BI mediates alterations to membrane FC domains which provoke enhanced bidirectional FC flux between cells and extracellular acceptors.     

Cholesterol flux between cells and high density lipoprotein. Lack of relationship to specific binding of the lipoprotein to the cell surface

The bidirectional flux of unesterified cholesterol between cells and high density lipoprotein (HDL) was studied in relationship to the binding of HDL to cells. At 100 micrograms at HDL protein/ml, the rate constant for cholesterol efflux from rat Fu5AH hepatoma cells is 3 X 10(-3)/min (t1/2 for efflux of 3.9 h), whereas efflux from GM3468 human fibroblasts is 0.075/4 h (equivalent to a t1/2 for efflux of 37 h). The relatively slow efflux of cholesterol from fibroblasts in comparison to rat hepatoma cells was observed previously with micellar and vesicular phospholipid-containing acceptors, which promote efflux by a mechanism involving the diffusion of cholesterol in the aqueous phase between the plasma membrane and the acceptor particles. When plotted against the logarithm of HDL concentration, the isotherms for efflux are centered at 300 and 100 micrograms of HDL protein/ml with the hepatoma cells and fibroblasts, respectively. These concentrations are 8-150 times greater than the corresponding values for Kd of specific HDL binding (2 and 12 micrograms of protein/ml, for hepatoma cells and fibroblasts, respectively). The treatment of HDL with tetranitromethane reduces the lipoprotein's affinity for specific cell-surface binding sites by 80-90%. However, at HDL concentrations of 5-60 micrograms of protein/ml, this treatment does not significantly inhibit cholesterol efflux from hepatoma cells, and inhibits efflux from fibroblasts an average of about 15%. Over the same range of concentrations, nitration alters influx by amounts less than 30% in the two cell types. These effects on flux do not parallel the reduced affinity of nitrated HDL for specific cell-surface binding sites. In summary, the present results do not support the concept that cholesterol transfer is facilitated by the specific cell-surface binding of HDL, but are consistent with the aqueous diffusion model of cholesterol transfer between cells and lipoproteins.     

Identification and characterization of a high density lipoprotein-binding protein in cell membranes by ligand blotting

Cholesterol efflux from cultured cells can be mediated through binding of high density lipoprotein (HDL) to a cell-surface site which shows many characteristics of a biological receptor. To determine whether a specific protein forms a component of this site, cell membrane proteins were analyzed by ligand blotting using 125I-HDL3. Results demonstrated that membranes from a number of cell types possess a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 110 kDa that binds HDL and apoA-I and apoA-II proteoliposomes, but not low density lipoprotein, acetylated low density lipoprotein, or apoE proteoliposomes. The binding activity of this protein was increased by loading cells with cholesterol and was abolished by trypsin treatment of intact cell monolayers. These results suggest that HDL binds with specificity to a cell-surface protein which is regulated by intracellular cholesterol levels. Since HDL binding to intact cell monolayers shows the same characteristics, the 110-kDa binding protein may represent the proposed HDL receptor that functions to facilitate transport of cholesterol from cells to HDL particles.     

Cholesterol efflux from macrophage foam cells is enhanced by active phospholipid transfer protein through generation of two types of acceptor particles

Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) is expressed by macrophage-derived foam cells in human atherosclerotic lesions, suggesting a regulatory role for PLTP in cellular cholesterol homeostasis. However, the exact role of PLTP in the reverse cholesterol transport pathway is not known. PLTP is present in plasma as two forms, a highly active (HA-PLTP) and a lowly active (LA-PLTP) form. In this study we clarify the role of the two forms of PLTP in cholesterol efflux from [3H]cholesterol oleate-acetyl-LDL-loaded THP-1 macrophages. Incubation of HDL in the presence of HA-PLTP resulted in the formation of two types of acceptor particles, prebeta-HDL and large fused HDL. HA-PLTP increased prebeta-HDL formation and caused a 42% increase in [3H]cholesterol efflux to HDL, while LA-PLTP neither formed prebeta-HDL nor increased cholesterol efflux. Removal of the formed prebeta-HDL by immunoprecipitation decreased cholesterol efflux by 47%. Neither HA- nor LA-PLTP enhanced cholesterol efflux to lipid-free apoA-I. Importantly, also the large fused HDL particles formed during incubation of HDL with HA-PLTP acted as efficient cholesterol acceptors. These observations demonstrate that only HA-PLTP increases macrophage cholesterol efflux, via formation of efficient cholesterol acceptors, prebeta-HDL and large fused HDL particles.     

Influence of apolipoproteins AI, AII, and Cs on the metabolism of membrane and lysosomal cholesterol in macrophages.

We have demonstrated previously that HDL-mediated efflux of plasma membrane cholesterol is independent of specific binding of apolipoproteins to the high density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor in either control or cholesterol-enriched cells (Karlin, J. B., Johnson, W. J., Benedict, C. R., Chacko, G. K., Phillips, M. C., and Rothblat, G. H. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 12557-12564 and Johnson, W. J., Mahlberg, F. H., Chacko, G. K., Phillips, M. C., and Rothblat, G. H. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 14099-14106). The present studies were conducted to determine if the process for removal of intracellular (lysosomal) cholesterol is similar to that of membrane cholesterol or if, in contrast, it is selectively regulated by specific apolipoproteins of HDL. For these reasons, we examined the influence of each of the major apolipoproteins of human HDL, apoAI, apoAII, and apoCs on the metabolism of membrane and lysosomal cholesterol in a macrophage foam cell model. We developed an experimental system which allows, for the first time, the simultaneous determination of lysosomal hydrolysis of cholesteryl ester and efflux and esterification of both lysosomal and membrane cholesterol. J774 and elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages were loaded with cholesteryl ester within lysosomes through phagocytosis of sonicated lipid droplets. Membrane and lysosomal pools of cholesterol were differentially radiolabeled. Discoidal complexes of egg phosphatidylcholine and purified apolipoproteins having a similar size and composition were used as cholesterol acceptors. Our results demonstrate that lysosomal hydrolysis of cholesteryl ester is independent of the presence of extracellular acceptors. Lysosomal production of cholesterol stimulates the esterification by acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase of membrane and lysosomal cholesterol. All the particles tested induce the efflux of both pools of cholesterol at a similar ratio. As efflux is stimulated, esterification by acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase is reduced. We conclude that none of these apolipoproteins selectively influences the efflux or the esterification of membrane of lysosomal cholesterol. In addition, we observe that particles containing apoAI are the most efficient acceptors, but this effect is not linked to specific binding to the HDL receptor.     

Malondialdehyde modification and copper-induced autooxidation of high-density lipoprotein decrease cholesterol efflux from human cultured fibroblasts.

Malondialdehyde modification and copper ion-induced autooxidation of the apo E-free HDL3 fraction of high-density lipoproteins were studied with respect to physico-chemical characteristics and physiological properties of the lipoprotein. Cu(2+)-oxidized HDL was much less modified than MDA-treated HDL, in terms of electrophoretic mobility, lipid peroxidation product content, Lys and Trp amino acid residue level and polymerization of apo A-I. With [3H]cholesteryl linoleate-labeled LDL, an inhibition of cholesterol efflux was observed in the presence of modified HDL, with a more marked effect with MDA-modified HDL. Competition studies with iodinated native HDL demonstrated a decreased binding of modified HDL to cell surface receptors. The decrease in cholesterol intracellular content, determined either by the isotopic equilibrium method or by the enzymatic cholesterol oxidase technic, was less marked in the presence of modified HDL than in the presence of native HDL. MDA-modified HDL was the less effective in decreasing cellular cholesterol content. It is thus suggested that malondialdehyde-induced alteration of HDL, or HDL peroxidation, if occurring in vivo, could contribute to the progress of atherogenesis by decreasing cholesterol efflux from peripheral tissues.     

Cholesterol transport between cells and high-density lipoproteins

Various types of studies in humans and animals suggest strongly that HDL is anti-atherogenic. The anti-atherogenic potential of HDL is thought to be due to its participation in reverse cholesterol transport, the process by which cholesterol is removed from non-hepatic cells and transported to the liver for elimination from the body. Extensive studies in cell culture systems have demonstrated that HDL is an important mediator of sterol transport between cells and the plasma compartment. The topic of this review is the mechanisms that account for sterol movement between HDL and cells. The most prominent and easily measured aspect of sterol movement between HDL and cells is the rapid bidirectional transfer of cholesterol between the lipoprotein and the plasma membrane. This movement occurs by unmediated diffusion, and in most situations its rate in each direction is limited by the rate of desorption of sterol molecules from the donor surface into the adjacent water phase. The net transfer of sterol mass out of cells occurs when there is either a relative enrichment of sterol within the plasma membrane or a depletion of sterol in HDL. Recent studies suggest that certain minor subfractions of HDL (with pre-beta mobility on agarose gel electrophoresis and containing apoprotein A-I but no apo A-II) are unusually efficient at promoting efflux of cell sterol. To what extent efflux to these HDL fractions is balanced by influx from the lipoprotein has not yet been established clearly. The prevention and reversal of atherosclerosis require the mobilization of cholesterol from internal (non-plasma membrane) cellular locations. To some extent, this may involve the retroendocytosis of HDL. However, most mobilization probably involves the transport of internal sterol to the plasma membrane, followed by desorption to extracellular HDL. Several laboratories are investigating the transport of sterol from intracellular locations to the plasma membrane. Studies on biosynthetic sterol (probably originating mostly in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum) suggest that there is rapid transport to the plasma membrane in lipid-rich vesicles. Important features of this transport are that it bypasses the Golgi apparatus and may be positively regulated by the specific binding of HDL to the plasma membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Cholesterol transfer from mitochondrial membranes and cells to human and rat serum lipoprotein fractions

We have investigated the transfer of [14C]cholesterol from labeled bovine heart mitochondria and Friend erythroleukemic cells to high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) fractions from human and rat plasma. The lipoprotein fractions were obtained by molecular sieve chromatography of plasma on agarose A-5m columns. For either membrane system, the highest rate of [14C]cholesterol transfer was observed with the human and the rat HDL fraction. Since the mitochondria lack the receptors for HDL, one may conclude that the observed preferential transfer is not governed by a receptor-controlled interaction of HDL with the membrane. Under conditions where the pool of free cholesterol in the lipoprotein fractions was the same, HDL was a much more efficient acceptor of [14C]cholesterol from mitochondria than LDL or VLDL. Similarly, transfer of [14C]cholesterol proceeded at a higher rate to HDL than to sonicated egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles, even under conditions where there was a tenfold excess of the vesicle-PC pool over the HDL phospholipid pool. This preferred transfer of [14C]cholesterol to HDL cannot be explained by a random diffusion of monomer cholesterol molecules. Rather, it shows that HDL has a specific effect on this process in the sense that it most likely enhances the efflux of cholesterol from the membrane. Treatment of HDL with trypsin reduced the rate of [14C]cholesterol transfer by 40-50%, indicating that protein component(s) are involved. One of these components appears to be apoA-I, as this protein was shown to enhance the transfer of [14C]cholesterol from mitochondria to lipid vesicles.     

Regulation of apolipoprotein E secretion by high density lipoprotein 3 in mouse macrophages

Recent reports from this laboratory indicate that exposure of cholesterol-loaded macrophages to high density lipoprotein 3 (HDL3) stimulates not only cholesterol efflux, but also results in a two- to threefold increase in apoE accumulation in the media (Dory, L., 1989. J. Lipid Res. 30: 809-816). The present experiments demonstrate that the effect of HDL3, and to a lesser extent HDL2, on apoE secretion is specific, concentration-dependent, and may require interaction with the HDL receptor. Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) fail to specifically stimulate apoE secretion by cholesterol-loaded macrophages. The effect of HLD3 is maximal at 25-50 micrograms/ml (0.26-0.52 microM) and can be totally abolished by mild nitrosylation (with 3 mM tetranitromethane (TNM)). Data are also presented to indicate that the increased rate of apoE secretion in the presence of HDL3 is not due to a "protective" effect of this lipoprotein on possible proteolytic degradation or cellular reuptake of apoE secreted into the media. The stimulatory effect of HDL on apoE secretion can be clearly dissociated from cholesterol efflux; HDL stimulates apoE secretion from oxysterol-treated cells in the absence of measurable cholesterol efflux, while TNM-HDL promotes substantial cholesterol efflux from cholesterol-loaded cells but has no effect on apoE secretion. The kinetics of apoE synthesis and secretion, determined in short-term labeling studies, demonstrate that under all experimental conditions examined a substantial portion of cellular apoE is not secreted. Furthermore, in cholesterol-loaded cells HDL3 increases apoE secretion essentially by diversion of a greater portion of cellular apoE pool for secretion. While HDL3 has no effect on the rate of apoE synthesis, cellular apoE turns over two-fold faster in cells incubated in the presence of HDL3 than in its absence (t 1/2 = 11 +/- 2 and 22 +/- 4 min, respectively), an observation corresponding well with the changes in the rates of apoE secretion under similar conditions. The HDL3-mediated increase in apoE secretion by cholesterol-loaded macrophages suggests another mechanism by which HDL exerts a protective effect in the development of atherosclerosis; increased contribution to the metabolic pool of apoE by peripheral tissues may lead to a more effective clearance of peripheral cholesterol by the liver (reverse cholesterol transport).