Cholesterol accumulation is increased in macrophages of phospholipid transfer protein-deficient mice: normalization by dietary alpha-tocopherol supplementation.
OBJECTIVE
Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) is a multifunctional, extracellular lipid transport protein that plays a major role in lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis. Recent in vivo studies suggested that unlike systemic PLTP, macrophage-derived PLTP would be antiatherogenic. The present study aimed at characterizing the atheroprotective properties of macrophage-derived PLTP.


RESULTS
Peritoneal macrophages were isolated from PLTP-deficient and wild-type mice and their biochemical characteristics were compared. It is shown that macrophages isolated from PLTP-deficient mice have increased basal cholesterol content and accumulate more cholesterol in the presence of LDL compared with wild-type cells. Cholesterol parameters in macrophages of PLTP-deficient mice were normalized by dietary alpha-tocopherol supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
The antiatherogenic properties of macrophage-derived PLTP are related at least in part to its ability to reduce cholesterol accumulation in macrophages through changes in the alpha-tocopherol content and oxidative status of the cells.
Ogier
Nicolas
N
INSERM U866, Centre de Recherche, IFR Santé-STIC, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France.
Klein
Alexis
A
Deckert
Valérie
V
Athias
Anne
A
Bessède
Ginette
G
Le Guern
Naig
N
Lagrost
Laurent
L
Desrumaux
Catherine
C
D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins / Q000172:deficiency*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000494:pharmacology*
D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins; D014815:Vitamins; C032629:acetyl-LDL; C510091:phospholipid transfer protein, mouse; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002784:Cholesterol; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol