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

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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 HDLc did not accelerate their rate of removal from the plasma but, in fact, retarded their clearance. Control (native) apoE HDLc 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 HDLc were cleared from the plasma and <10% appeared in the liver. Acetoacetylation of the apoE HDLc did not enhance their uptake or degradation by macrophages. The rapid clearance from the plasma of the native apoE HDLc in normal and hypercholesterolemic dogs suggests that the liver may be a normal site for the removal of the cholesteryl ester-rich apoE HDLc. The retardation in removal after acetoacetylation of apoE HDLc indicates that the uptake process may be mediated by a lysine-dependent recognition system.

Authors

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