Low-density lipoprotein endocytosis. I. Influence of the multivalent ligand cationized ferritin on normal and receptor-negative human fibroblasts

Inhibition of low density lipoprotein oxidation by thyronines and probucol

Oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL) results in increased macrophage uptake of LDL which may contribute to the formation of macrophage-derived foam cells in the early atherosclerotic lesion. In this study we show that thyroxine (T4), its optical antipodes, certain desiodo analogs and probucol inhibited cupric sulfate-catalyzed oxidation of human LDL in a concentration-dependent manner as assessed by measuring the electrophoretic mobility, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and LDL degradation in mouse macrophages. In Cu(2+)-catalyzed LDL oxidation at 24 hr, the TBARS level was 80 nmol/mg LDL protein/24-hr incubation. The concentrations (microM) of each agent producing 50% inhibition in the formation of oxidized LDL (IC50) for TBARS, electrophoretic mobility and macrophage degradation, respectively, were 1.13, 1.27 and 1.30 for reversed triiodothyronine; 1.33, 1.80 and 1.27 for triiodothyronine; 1.33, 1.37 and 1.37 for racemic thyroxine, DL-T4; 1.10, 1.40 and 1.50 for L-T4; 1.13, 1.33 and 1.23 for D-T4; and 1.47, 1.63 and 1.37 for probucol. No differences in inhibitory potency were observed when rT3, T3, the optical antipodes of T4 and the hydrophobic antioxidant drug probucol were compared. In air-induced LDL oxidation, TBARS was 16.1 nmol/mg LDL protein/6-hr incubation. The IC50 concentrations (microM) for TBARS and diene conjugation, respectively, were 0.187 and 0.336 for D-T4; 0.205 and 0.243 for L-T4 and 1.30 and 3.02 for probucol. With air-induced LDL oxidation conditions, the L-T4 concentrations included the physiological range, and thyroid-binding globulin did not modify the inhibitory effect of the endogenous enantiomer, L-T4. Putative uptake of this stereoisomer into LDL inhibited oxidation of these lipoproteins. Since concentrations of these thyronines which blocked air-induced LDL oxidation were in the physiological range, we conclude that thyronines, like the pharmacological agent probucol, limit the oxidative modification of LDL and thus may serve as natural inhibitors of atherogenesis.

Castanospermine inhibits the function of the low-density lipoprotein receptor

Castanospermine, a plant alkaloid that inhibits the glycoprotein processing enzyme glucosidase I, has been used to inhibit N-linked oligosaccharide modification, resulting in the production of glycoproteins having Glc3Man7-9(GlcNAc)2 oligosaccharides. This alkaloid caused a significant inhibition of LDL endocytosis in cultured primate smooth muscle cells and human skin fibroblasts. At an optimum concentration of 250 micrograms/mL, castanospermine caused a 40% decrease in cell surface receptor-mediated LDL binding at 4 degrees C, with no apparent change in affinity. Further, the inhibitor had no direct effect on LDL metabolism. This inhibition of LDL receptor expression and function occurred only when the drug was present during de novo receptor synthesis, i.e., during up-regulation. Although the number of cell surface LDL receptors was significantly reduced in the presence of castanospermine, the total number of receptors in the cell was only slightly reduced, indicating that castanospermine induced a redistribution rather than a reduction in the number of receptors. Similarly, subcellular fractionation studies confirmed that castanospermine treatment of fibroblasts results in an altered distribution of receptor activity compared with controls. These findings are consistent with the conclusion that the decrease in specific LDL binding to cells grown in the presence of castanospermine is due to intracellular redistribution of the LDL receptor so that more receptor remains in internal compartments as a result of a diminished rate of transport.

Low-density lipoprotein endocytosis. II. Influence of the multivalent ligand cationized ferritin on acetylated low-density lipoprotein endocytosis in cultured cells

Interactions of the basic multivalent ligand cationized ferritin (CF) with cultured cells markedly alter their endocytic function. In this study, the influence of CF treatment on the binding, internalization, and degradation of chemically modified (acetylated) low-density lipoproteins (Ac-LDL) was examined in aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC); and in normal and FH mutant LDL receptor-negative human skin fibroblasts, which lack the Ac-LDL (scavenger) receptor; and in vascular endothelial cells, which normally express the receptor. Although CF treatment of all three cell types at 37 degrees C resulted in the induction of Pronasesensitive, high-capacity, high-affinity binding (Kd = 12.0 +/- 2.0 nM at 4 degrees C) of labeled Ac-LDL, which at 37 degrees C was accompanied by significant internalization and degradation, these processes were not receptor-mediated. CF-induced high-affinity binding was inhibited by unlabeled Ac-LDL, fucoidan, carrageenan, and dextran sulfate but was unaffected by native LDL and albumin and only partially inhibited by acetylated albumin. However, analysis of membrane preparations of the cells for "scavenger" receptor protein by solid-phase filtration assay and Western blotting identified the receptor in endothelial cells and in granuloma (positive control) macrophages, but not in either CF-treated or untreated SMC. In addition, studies with both glutaraldehyde-fixed cells and CF bound to culture dishes indicated that Ac-LDL avidly binds to CF. Further, ultrastructural studies using colloidal gold-conjugated Ac-LDL showed Ac-LDL preferentially binding to CF aggregates on the cell surface. Thus, these studies indicate that treatment of cells with CF induces an endocytic process which, although remarkably similar to the scavenger pathway, is mediated by Ac-LDL binding to membrane-associated CF. These observations have implications in terms of mechanisms that might regulate the endocytosis of modified low-density lipoproteins.