Interaction of lipoprotein lipase with heparin.

The hydrolysis of triglyceride-rich plasma lipoproteins is initiated by lipoprotein lipase (LPL) located at the luminal surface of endothelial cells. We previously reported that LPL binds to cultured endothelial cells with a Km of 2.7 x 10(-7) M and that this binding is inhibited by heparinase, heparin, or heparan sulfate. We and others recently isolated LPL cDNAs from various animals. The deduced amino acid sequence from cDNA sequence is highly conserved among animal species. The structural analysis revealed two regions rich in basic amino acid residues at the carboxyl-terminal region that may interact with the anionic heparin-like molecules. Amino acid residues 292 to 300 of bovine LPL are extremely similar to the reported heparin binding sites on apolipoproteins B-100 (amino acid residues 3359-3367) and E (amino acid residues 142-150).

Apolipoprotein B metabolism in subjects with deficiency of apolipoproteins CIII and AI. Evidence that apolipoprotein CIII inhibits catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins by lipoprotein lipase in vivo.

Previous data suggest that apolipoprotein (apo) CIII may inhibit both triglyceride hydrolysis by lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and apo E-mediated uptake of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins by the liver. We studied apo B metabolism in very low density (VLDL), intermediate density (IDL), and low density lipoproteins (LDL) in two sisters with apo CIII-apo AI deficiency. The subjects had reduced levels of VLDL triglyceride, normal LDL cholesterol, and near absence of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Compartmental analysis of the kinetics of apo B metabolism after injection of 125I-VLDL and 131I-LDL revealed fractional catabolic rates (FCR) for VLDL apo B that were six to seven times faster than normal. Simultaneous injection of [3H]glycerol demonstrated rapid catabolism of VLDL triglyceride. VLDL apo B was rapidly and efficiently converted to IDL and LDL. The FCR for LDL apo B was normal. In vitro experiments indicated that, although sera from the apo CIII-apo-AI deficient patients were able to normally activate purified LPL, increasing volumes of these sera did not result in the progressive inhibition of LPL activity demonstrable with normal sera. Addition of purified apo CIII to the deficient sera resulted in 20-50% reductions in maximal LPL activity compared with levels of activity attained with the same volumes of the native, deficient sera. These in vitro studies, together with the in vivo results, indicate that in normal subjects apo CIII can inhibit the catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins by lipoprotein lipase.

Plasma apolipoprotein secretion by human monocyte-derived macrophages.

Apolipoprotein E has been demonstrated to be a major secretory protein of human monocyte macrophages. The synthesis of the other plasma apolipoproteins by these cells has not been documented. Human monocyte macrophages cultured for 17-76 days were preincubated for 24 h in RPMI 1640/0.2% bovine serum albumin with or without malondialdehyde-LDL (100 micrograms/ml), followed by an additional 24 h incubation in RPMI 1640/0.2% bovine serum albumin. The media from the two incubation periods were analyzed for apolipoproteins A-I, B, C-II, C-III and E by specific radioimmunoassays. No apolipoprotein B mass was detected with a specific radioimmunoassay capable of detecting 10 ng apolipoprotein B. No apolipoproteins A-I, C-II or C-III mass was detected, even though the radioimmunoassays for these apolipoproteins were as sensitive as that for apolipoprotein E (detection limit of 0.2 ng). In contrast, significant levels of macrophage-secreted apolipoprotein E were quantified. Baseline apolipoprotein E production ranged from 0.64 to 2.82 micrograms/mg cell protein per 24 h. Preincubation in the presence of malondialdehyde-LDL (100 micrograms/ml) stimulated a 1.6-3.0-fold increase in apolipoprotein E secretion. The identification of the immunoreactive material as apolipoprotein E was confirmed by labelling the cells with [35S]methionine, followed by fractionation of the 35S-labelled secretory products by anti-apolipoprotein E affinity chromatography and SDS-gel electrophoresis. We thus report the absence of synthesis of apolipoproteins A-I, B, C-II and C-III by cultured human monocyte macrophages. These cells, however, can synthesize microgram levels of apolipoprotein E on a per mg protein basis.

Apo E-mediated uptake and degradation of normal very low density lipoproteins by human monocyte/macrophages: a saturable pathway distinct from the LDL receptor.

Normal human fasting very low density lipoproteins (n-VLDL; d less than 1.006 g/ml) were demonstrated to be taken up and degraded by human monocyte-macrophages via a saturable process distinct from the previously described LDL and scavenger receptors. Through the use of apolipoprotein-phospholipid complexes, apolipoprotein E (apoE) was identified as the ligand mediating recognition of n-VLDL by this receptor.

Increased catabolism of native and cyclohexanedione-modified low density lipoprotein in subjects with myeloproliferative diseases.

We previously demonstrated reduced levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in association with increased total fractional catabolic rates (FCR( of LDL apoprotein B (apo B) in individuals with myeloproliferative diseases (MPD). The removal of LDL from plasma and interstitial fluid is mediated via receptor and nonreceptor pathways. We attempted to quantitate LDL catabolism via each of these pathways in subjects with MPD and control subjects. The total FCR of LDL apo B was measured using radiolabeled native LDL. The FCR of radiolabeled cyclohexanedione-modified LDL (CHD-LDL) was used to assess the nonreceptor-mediated catabolism of LDL. Total FCR (mean +/- SD) was elevated in MPD vs controls (0.78 +/- 0.32 vs 0.45 +/- 0.11, p less than 0.01). CHD-LDL FCR was also increased in MPD vs controls (0.62 +/- 0.53 vs 0.23 +/- 0.04, p less than 0.01). Studies of the plasma decay of radiolabeled native and CHD-LDL preparations after their injection into cynomolgus monkeys indicated that CHD-LDL preparations from MPD and controls were removed at the same rates in those primates and that all CHD-LDL preparations were catabolized more slowly than the native LDL preparations. Studies in vitro indicated that CHD modification of LDL significantly reduced the rate of degradation of this lipoprotein by a specific high-affinity receptor pathway in normal human monocyte-derived macrophages and cultured human fibroblasts. We conclude that the catabolism of both native and CHD-LDL apo B is increased in subjects with MPD. If CHD-LDL is a valid tracer of nonreceptor-mediated removal of native LDL in individuals with MPD, our results indicate that the reduced LDL cholesterol concentrations demonstrated in these subjects are associated with increased nonreceptor-mediated catabolism of LDL apo B. At this time, both neoplastic cells and activated monocyte-macrophages appear to be likely sites of these abnormalities.

Bactericidal capacity of phorbol myristate acetate-treated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Thus far, the functional capacity of phorbol myristate acetate- (PMA)-treated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes has been undefined. PMA induced exocytosis of lactoferrin, the specific granule marker, but not of myeloperoxidase, the azurophil granule marker. This phenomenon was demonstrated both biochemically and with fluorescent antibody conjugates. PMA-treated neutrophils contained virtually no specific granules when viewed by electron microscopy. Separation of the granule classes by linear sucrose density gradient centrifugation revealed the loss, from PMA-treated neutrophils, of lactoferrin and the specific granule (D20(20) = 1.89) band usually resolved from normal neutrophils. Cells treated with PMA appeared to retain those functions normally associated with intraleukocytic microbicidal action. The hexose monophosphate shunt activated by phagocytic challenge was present in PMA-treated neutrophils. As demonstrated by electron microscopy, the azurophil granules of these cells appeared intact, and they retained the capacity for degranulation with translocation of myeloperoxidase to the site of phagocytized Escherichia coli. The PMA-treated neutrophils also remained capable of degrading the ingested microorganisms. PMA-treated neutrophils exhibited a decrease in phagocytic ability at all levels of bacterial challenge. In the presence of a high multiplicity of bacteria they demonstrated an impairment in killing. These same cells were able to kill low multiplicities of E. coli as well as control cells. It thus appeared that the loss of the specific granules, plus other undefined PMA-induced alterations, impaired neither the viability of these neutrophils nor their killing ability in the presence of a modest phagocytic challenge.

Subcellular localization of NAD(P)H oxidase(s) in human neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

NADH and NADPH oxidase activities in a homogenate of human neutrophils co-sediment in a linear sucrose density gradient under either velocity or isopycnic conditions of centrifugation. The position of these activities in the gradient does not correspond to any known subcellular granule or to the cell-membrane fraction. These data suggest that the oxidase activities may reside in a unique granule that has previously not been recognized.