Very low and intermediate density lipoprotein fractions from apolipoprotein E gene-knockout mice induce cholesteryl ester accumulation in J774 macrophages.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the atherogenic role of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) fraction isolated from plasma of apolipoprotein E (apoE)-knockout mice.


METHODS
Containing both VLDL and IDL (apoEko-VLDL/IDL), lipoprotein fraction was isolated from plasma of apoE-knockout mice by ultracentrifugation, and its interaction with J774 macrophages was examined together with its physicochemical properties including lipid content, electrophoresis mobility and apolipoprotein components.


RESULTS
ApoEko-VLDL/IDL could be actively taken up by J774 macrophages, resulting in marked cholesterol ester accumulation in the cells (55 +/- 9 nmol/mg cell protein), which was a 7-fold increase over the corresponding lever induced by low density lipoprotein and significantly higher than non-loaded group (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
ApoEko-VLDL/IDL induced significant cholesterol ester accumulation through an apoE independent pathway. This pathway may explain, partly the mechanism of cholesterol deposition in arterial wall in apoE-knockout mice.
Zhang
C
C
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Nanjing General Hospital of PLA, Nanjing 210002, China.
Akira
M
M
Hideki
H
H
Hisashi
S
S
Seikoh
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000378:metabolism*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D053419:Lipoproteins, IDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D008074:Lipoproteins; D053419:Lipoproteins, IDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger