Oxidized LDL receptor LOX-1 binds to C-reactive protein and mediates its vascular effects.
BACKGROUND
C-reactive protein (CRP) exerts biological activity on vascular endothelial cells. This activity may promote atherothrombosis, but the effects of this activity are still controversial. Lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1), the oxidized LDL receptor on endothelial cells, is involved in endothelial dysfunction induced by oxidized LDL.


METHODS
We used laser confocal microscopy to examine and fluorescence cell image analysis to quantify the binding of fluorescently labeled CRP to cells expressing LOX-1. We then examined the binding of unlabeled CRP to recombinant human LOX-1 in a cell-free system. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against LOX-1 were applied to cultured bovine endothelial cells to analyze the role of LOX-1 in native cells. To observe its in vivo effects, we injected CRP intradermally in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive (SHR-SP) rats and analyzed vascular permeability.


RESULTS
CRP bound to LOX-1-expressing cells in parallel with the induction of LOX-1 expression. CRP dose-dependently bound to the cell line and recombinant LOX-1, with significant binding detected at 0.3 mg/L CRP concentration. The K(d) value of the binding was calculated to be 1.6 x 10(-7) mol/L. siRNA against LOX-1 significantly inhibited the binding of fluorescently labeled CRP to the endothelial cells, whereas control RNA did not. In vivo, intradermal injection of CRP-induced vascular exudation of Evans blue dye in SHR-SP rats, in which expression of LOX-1 is greatly enhanced. Anti-LOX-1 antibody significantly suppressed vascular permeability.


CONCLUSIONS
CRP and oxidized LDL-receptor LOX-1 directly interact with each other. Two risk factors for ischemic heart diseases, CRP and oxidized LDL, share a common molecule, LOX-1, as their receptor.
Fujita
Yoshiko
Y
Department of Vascular Physiology, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
Kakino
Akemi
A
Nishimichi
Norihisa
N
Yamaguchi
Saburo
S
Sato
Yuko
Y
Machida
Sachiko
S
Cominacini
Luciano
L
Delneste
Yves
Y
Matsuda
Haruo
H
Sawamura
Tatsuya
T
D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016466:CHO Cells; D019556:COS Cells; D002417:Cattle; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015870:Gene Expression; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010539:Permeability; D011485:Protein Binding; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D051127:Scavenger Receptors, Class E / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance
C495137:OLR1 protein, human; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D051127:Scavenger Receptors, Class E; D002097:C-Reactive Protein