title: Characterization of alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (alpha 2 MR/LRP) in White Carneau pigeon peritoneal macrophages: its role in lipoprotein metabolism.
abstract: White Carneau pigeons develop atherosclerosis naturally, and at an accelerated rate with cholesterol feeding. Macrophages play a central role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in pigeons, as they do in man. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pigeon macrophages express the alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor/low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (alpha 2 MR/LRP) and whether this receptor would recognize beta-VLDL, the major cholesterol-transporting lipoprotein in cholesterol-fed pigeons. The binding of 125I-methylamine-treated alpha 2M (125I-alpha 2 M+) at 4 degrees C was saturable (> 10 nM), specific, Ca2+ dependent, was competed for by the receptor-associated protein (RAP), and had a Kd of binding of 1-5.6 nM, similar to mouse peritoneal macrophages studied simultaneously. At 37 degrees C the bound 125I-alpha 2 M+ was rapidly internalized and degraded in lysosomes. The binding of alpha 2 M+ was not down-regulated with cholesterol loading, as is the LDL receptor on pigeon macrophages. At 4 degrees C there was no competition for binding of 125I-alpha 2 M+ by either pigeon or rabbit beta-VLDL, nor was binding of 125I-pigeon or rabbit beta-VLDL competed for by alpha 2 M+. Stimulation of cholesterol esterification by rabbit or pigeon beta-VLDL was unaffected by RAP, lactoferrin, or alpha 2 M+. Metabolism of 125I-pigeon or rabbit beta-VLDL was not competed by RAP, lactoferrin, or alpha 2 M+ even in the presence of lipoprotein lipase. Pigeon macrophages, and a 500 kDa membrane protein isolated from them, were recognized by several antihuman alpha 2 MR/LRP monoclonal antibodies. The 500 kDa membrane protein also bound 45Ca. These data suggest considerable sequence homology with the human alpha 2 MR/LRP. This is the first study to characterize a functional alpha 2 MR/LRP on peritoneal macrophages from an avian species. There was no evidence, however, that the alpha 2 MR/LRP mediates uptake of beta-VLDL by pigeon macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1072, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: St Clair
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D010856:Columbidae; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000378:metabolism; D026503:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008074:Lipoproteins; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D026503:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D002784:Cholesterol