Altered Metabolism (In Vivo and In Vitro) of Plasma Lipoproteins after Selective Chemical Modification of Lysine Residues of the Apoproteins

Robert W. Mahley; Thomas L. Innerarity; Karl H. Weisgraber; Suk Y. Oh

doi:10.1172/JCI109518

Altered Metabolism (In Vivo and In Vitro) of Plasma Lipoproteins after Selective Chemical Modification of Lysine Residues of the Apoproteins

Robert W. Mahley, Thomas L. Innerarity, Karl H. Weisgraber, and Suk Y. Oh

Published September 1, 1979 - More info

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Abstract

Chemical modification of lysine residues by acetoacetylation of the apoproteins of iodinated canine and human low density lipoproteins (LDL) and canine high density lipoproteins (HDL) resulted in a marked acceleration in the rate of removal of these lipoproteins from the plasma after intravenous injection into dogs. Clearance of the lipoproteins from the plasma correlated with their rapid appearance in the liver. Acetoacetylated canine ¹²⁵I-LDL (30-60% of the lysine residues modified) were essentially completely removed from the plasma within an hour, and > 75% of the activity cleared within 5 min. Reversal of the acetoacetylation of the lysine residues of the LDL restored to these lipoproteins a rate of clearance essentially identical to that of control LDL. Identical results were obtained with modified human LDL injected into dogs. At 10 min, when ≅ 90% of the acetoacetylated human ¹²⁵I-LDL had been removed from the plasma, 90% of the total injected activity could be accounted for in the liver. Furthermore, it was possible to demonstrate an enhancement in uptake and degradation of acetoacetylated LDL by canine peritoneal macrophages in vitro. The mechanism(s) responsible for the enhanced removal of the LDL and HDL in vivo and in vitro remains to be determined. By contrast, however, acetoacetylation of canine ¹²⁵I-apoE HDL_c did not accelerate their rate of removal from the plasma but, in fact, retarded their clearance. Control (native) apoE HDL_c were removed from the plasma (64% within 20 min) and rapidly appeared in the liver (39% at 20 min). At the same time point, only 45% of the acetoacetylated apoE HDL_c were cleared from the plasma and <10% appeared in the liver. Acetoacetylation of the apoE HDL_c did not enhance their uptake or degradation by macrophages. The rapid clearance from the plasma of the native apoE HDL_c in normal and hypercholesterolemic dogs suggests that the liver may be a normal site for the removal of the cholesteryl ester-rich apoE HDL_c. The retardation in removal after acetoacetylation of apoE HDL_c indicates that the uptake process may be mediated by a lysine-dependent recognition system.