Inhibitory effects of HepG2 cell-derived apolipoprotein A-I-containing lipoproteins on cholesteryl ester accumulation in macrophages

Glucose-regulated protein 78 inhibits scavenger receptor A-mediated internalization of acetylated low density lipoprotein

Class A scavenger receptor (SR-A) plays an important role in foam cell formation. However, the mechanism underlying the internalization of the receptor-ligand complexes remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanism to regulate SR-A-mediated intracellular lipid accumulation in macrophages. A pull-down assay was performed and glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) was identified to bind with the cytoplasmic domain of SR-A (CSR-A). Immunoprecipitation and artificially expressed protein binding assay demonstrated the direct specific binding of GRP78 with SR-A in cells. Indirect immunofluorescence assay and western blot analysis showed their co-localization in membrane and cytoplasm. Over-expression of GRP78 specifically inhibited SR-A-mediated uptake of fluorescent acetylated low-density lipoprotein, a specific ligand for SR-A, without altering cellular SR-A expression and binding ability, and significantly inhibited cholesterol ester accumulation in cells, which can be partly attributed to the suppression of c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase signaling pathway. These results suggest that GRP78 may act as an inhibitor of SR-A-mediated internalization of modified low-density lipoprotein into macrophages.

A novel peptide binding to the cytoplasmic domain of class A scavenger receptor reduces lipid uptake in THP-1 macrophages

Class A scavenger receptor (SR-A) contributes primarily to lipid accumulation in cells. The cytoplasmic domain of SR-A (CSR-A) is responsible for internalization of the receptor-ligand complex into cells. In the present study we tried to reduce cellular uptake of acetylated low density lipoprotein (AcLDL) by inducing the interaction between the CSR-A and a novel peptide H11, which was screened from a phage-displayed peptide library. When H11 was fused with a cross membrane peptide TAT, the fusion peptide could enter cell efficiently. The peptide H11 inhibited the binding and uptake of DiI-AcLDL and attenuated lipid accumulation in the differentiated human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1) macrophages. Furthermore, the interaction of peptide H11 with the CSR-A inhibited the expression of SR-A protein as well as the phosphorylation of c-jun N-terminal kinase 2 (JNK2) in cells, which mediates cellular lipid accumulation-related signaling pathways. These results suggest that the CSR-A can be a potential target to prevent lipid accumulation in cells. The peptide H11 may be useful in regulating SR-A functions in macrophages.

Secretion of prebeta HDL increases with the suppression of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in Hep G2 cells

Prebeta HDL are small, protein rich lipoproteins that are predominantly composed of apo A-I, without apo A-II. Prebeta HDL are secreted from the liver as nascent HDL and/or are produced in the incubated plasma by cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP). However, the role of CETP in the secretion of HDL from the liver has yet to be determined. In the present study, we examined the effect of the suppression of hepatic CETP by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) against CETP targeted to the liver on the secretion of apo A-I using a Hep G2 cell culture. The ODNs against CETP were coupled to asialoglycoprotein (ASOR) carrier molecules, which serve as an important method for the regulation of liver gene expression. Hep G2 cells were cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10 FBS. After 2 days, the medium was changed to DMEM with EGF and the cells were divided into three groups. The control group received saline, while the sense group was mixed with the sense ODNs complex and the antisense group was mixed with the antisense ODNs complex, respectively, for 2 days. Both the hepatic CETP mRNA and the CETP mass in the medium in the antisense group decreased significantly more than in the sense and the control groups (CETP mass: 1.697 + /- 0.410 ng/mg cell protein vs. 2.367 + /- 0.22 and 2.360 + /- 0.139, n = 3 in each determination). In contrast, both the hepatic apo A-I mRNA and the apo A-I mass in the medium in the antisense group were significantly higher than those in the sense and the control groups (apo A-I mass; 1.877 + /- 0.215 micro/mg cell protein vs. 1.213 + /- 0.282 and 1.097 + /- 0.144, n = 3 in each determination). The increase in apo A-I was mainly due to the increase in prebeta apo A-I. These findings may partly explain why HDL and apo A-I increase in patients with CETP deficiency, while also indicating the possibility that the original level of prebeta HDL is sufficient in such patients.