title: Requirement for enzymatically active lipoprotein lipase in neuronal differentiation: a site-directed mutagenesis study.
abstract: Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is well known for its role in the catabolism of plasma triglyceride (Tg)-rich lipoproteins, such as very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and chylomicrons. The action of LPL on Tg-rich lipoproteins provides free fatty acids to skeletal muscle and adipose tissues, the main sites of LPL synthesis. Several studies have demonstrated that LPL is widely expressed in the parenchyma of brain tissues. We have recently shown that LPL expression is essential for promoting VLDL-stimulated differentiation of Neuro-2A cells. In the present study, we have generated stably transfected Neuro-2A cell lines expressing either wild-type LPL or various LPL mutants, including three enzymatically inactive variants (Asp156Asn, Gly188Glu and Pro207Leu), an enzymatically defective variant (Asn291Ser) and a variant known to express increased LPL activity (Ser447Ter). In Neuro-2A cells expressing enzymatically inactive LPL variants, VLDL-stimulated differentiation and neurite extension were not observed. However, in Neuro-2A cells expressing partially active or overactive LPL variants, VLDL added to the cultured medium was able to induce the phenotypic differentiation similar to that observed in Neuro-2A cells expressing wild-type LPL. In summary, these data show that the availability of fatty acids, resulting from the catabolism of VLDL by LPL, is required to promote the phenotypical differentiation of neuroblastoma cells. These findings may have significant relevance to lipoprotein metabolism in the brain as well as to the maturation and regeneration of nervous tissues in carriers of mutant LPL.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Laval University, Ste-Foy, PQ, Canada G1K 7P4.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paradis
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Julien
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ven Murthy
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern / Q000379:methods; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000494:pharmacology; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase