Free cholesterol loading of macrophages stimulates phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis and up-regulation of CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase

Sphingomyelin-cholesterol interactions in biological and model membranes

Cholesterol and sphingomyelin are both important plasma membrane constituents in cells. It is now becoming evident that these two lipid classes affect each other's metabolism in the cell to an extent that was not previously appreciated. It is the aim of this review to present recent data in the literature concerning both molecular and membrane properties of the two lipid classes, how they interact in membranes (both biological and model), and the consequences their mutual interaction have on different functional and metabolic processes in cells and lipoproteins.

Oxidized LDL-containing immune complexes induce Fc gamma receptor I-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in THP-1 macrophages

Our previous studies have shown that Fc gamma receptor (FcgammaR)-mediated uptake of LDL-containing immune complexes (oxLDL-ICs) by human monocyte-derived macrophages leads to not only transformation of macrophages into foam cells but also macrophage activation and release of cytokines. It has been shown that cross-linking of FcgammaR triggers activation of signal transduction pathways that alter gene expression in macrophages. In this study, we determined whether engagement of FcgammaR by oxLDL-ICs leads to activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway, a signaling cascade serving many important functions, including the regulation of gene expression, in THP-1 macrophage-like cells. Our results from immunoblotting, using specific anti-phosphorylated MAP kinase antibodies, showed that oxLDL-ICs induced extracellular signal regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) MAP kinase phosphorylation in THP-1 macrophage-like cells in time- and dose-dependent manners. Cholesterol loading before stimulation led to a longer phosphorylation of ERK2. Nuclear translocation of phosphorylated ERK was markedly increased after the stimulation. Moreover, our data showed that oxLDL-IC induction of MAP kinase was prevented by human monomeric IgG1, suggesting that the specific engagement of type I FcgammaR by oxLDL-IC is responsible for the MAP kinase activation. Finally, we showed that human anti-oxLDL autoantibody-containing immune complexes immobilized on type I collagen induced MAP kinase activation in THP-1 cells. These results strongly suggest that oxLDL-IC, which has been detected in atherosclerotic plaques, may play an important role in macrophage activation and atherogenesis.

Macrophage-targeted CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (1-314) transgenic mice

CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CT) is a rate-limiting and complexly regulated enzyme in phosphatidylcholine (PC) biosynthesis and is important in the adaptation of macrophages to cholesterol loading. The goal of the present study was to use transgenesis to study the CT reaction in differentiated macrophages in vivo. We successfully created macrophage-targeted transgenic mice that overexpress a truncated form of CT, called CT-314. Sonicated homogenates of peritoneal macrophages overexpressing CT-314 protein demonstrated a two-fold increase in CT activity in vitro compared with homogenates from nontransgenic macrophages. CT-314 macrophages, however, demonstrated no increase in CT activity or PC biosynthesis in vivo. This finding could not be explained simply by intracellular mistargeting of CT-314, by the inability of CT-314 to associate with cellular membranes, or by substrate limitation. To further probe the mechanism, an in vitro assay using intact nuclei was developed in an attempt to preserve interactions between CT, which is primarily a nuclear enzyme in macrophages, and other nuclear molecules. This intact-nuclei assay faithfully reproduced the situation observed in living macrophages, namely, no significant increase in CT activity despite increased CT-314 protein. In contrast, CT activity in sonicated nuclei from CT-314 macrophages was substantially higher than that from nontransgenic macrophages. Thus, a sonication-sensitive interaction between excess CT and one or more nuclear molecules may be responsible for the limitation of CT activity in CT-314 macrophages. These data represent the first report of a CT transgenic animal and the first study of a differentiated cell type with excess CT.

Differential effects of sphingomyelin hydrolysis and cholesterol transport on oxysterol-binding protein phosphorylation and Golgi localization

The deposition of de novo synthesized and lipoprotein-derived cholesterol at the plasma membrane and transport to the endoplasmic reticulum is dependent on sphingomyelin (SM) content. Here we show that hydrolysis of plasma membrane SM in Chinese hamster ovary cells by exogenous bacterial sphingomyelinase resulted in enhanced cholesterol esterification at the endoplasmic reticulum and rapid dephosphorylation of the oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP), a cytosolic/Golgi receptor for oxysterols such as 25-hydroxycholesterol. After sphingomyelinase treatment, restoration of OSBP phosphorylation closely paralleled resynthesis of SM and down-regulation of cholesterol ester synthesis. SM hydrolysis activated an okadaic acid-sensitive phosphatase that was not stimulated in Chinese hamster ovary cells by short chain ceramides. Agents that specifically blocked sphingomyelinase-mediated delivery of cholesterol to acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (U18666A) or promoted cholesterol efflux to the medium (cyclodextrin) did not inhibit OSBP dephosphorylation. SM hydrolysis also promoted OSBP translocation from a vesicular compartment to the Golgi apparatus. Cyclodextrin and U18666A also caused OSBP translocation to the Golgi apparatus, suggesting that OSBP movement is coupled to changes in the cholesterol content of the plasma membrane or Golgi apparatus. These results identify OSBP as a potential target of SM turnover and cholesterol mobilization at the plasma membrane and/or Golgi apparatus.

Expression of gamma-IFN responsive genes in scavenger receptor over-expressing monocytes is associated with xanthomatosis

We have recently described an inherited over-expression of the macrophage scavenger receptor (SR) in blood monocytes from members of a kindred, only two of whom displayed extensive xanthomatosis. Using mRNA differential display we demonstrated abnormally high expression of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT1alpha) in monocytes from the proband II-2. Expression of gamma-interferon inducible protein 10 (IP-10), a STAT1alpha-responsive gene and mediator of inflammatory response, was also abnormally expressed in the monocytes from II-2. Over-expression of both genes was restricted to monocytes from II-2 and was not observed in monocytes from the clinically unaffected family members, unlike that of SR. Gel retardation assays with THP-1 cell extracts identified gamma-IFN inducible DNA binding activity to three potential STATI DNA binding elements in the human IP-10 promoter region from nucleotides - 245 to - 188. Taken together these results suggest that gamma-interferon mediated cell activation is responsible for STAT1alpha-induced transcription of the IP-10 gene in THP-1 macrophages as well as in monocytes from II-2. Analysis of monocytes from familial hypercholesterolemic (FH) subjects, who frequently develop xanthomatosis, revealed a significant number of subjects with elevated STAT1alpha and IP-10 expression. Our data suggest that the inflammatory effects of gamma-IFN signaling could play a role in foam cell formation and xanthomatosis.

Altering molecular mechanisms to prevent sudden arrhythmic death

Trials of drug treatment for prevention of sudden arrhythmic death have been disappointing, perhaps because suppressive therapy with arrhythmic agents fails to address the mechanisms leading to electrophysiological failure. We propose that preventive treatment should pay more attention to molecular mechanisms responsible for the progression of cardiac disease to electrophysiological failure. Most sudden cardiac deaths occur in people with atherogenic dyslipidaemias. Our hypothesis is that the pathogenic molecular mechanisms of dyslipidaemias contribute directly to arrhythmogenesis. Proinflammatory-prothrombotic lipid-derived mediators that may play a part in arrhythmogenesis include phospholipids and leucotrienes acting through the platelet-activating-factor and peroxisome proliferator-activated-receptor pathways. There are drugs available to test the hypothesis of dyslipidaemias-specific prevention of electrophysiological failure.

Studies on the regulation of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase using permeabilized HEP G2 cells: evidence that both active and inactive enzyme are membrane-bound

To obtain more insight into the mechanisms regulating CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CT), we determined the effect of oleate treatment on the rate of CT release from permeabilized Hep G2 cells and the distribution of the CT remaining in the permeabilized cells. When we permeabilized untreated cells in pH 7.5 buffer containing 0.15 M KCl, the rate of CT release was much slower than the release of lactate dehydrogenase. Oleate treatment caused a further decrease in CT release from cells. In untreated cells, 70-80% of the CT remaining in cells 10 min after permeabilization was recovered as soluble CT. Oleate treatment increased the amount of bound CT but over 50% of the CT in cells 10 min after permeabilization was recovered as soluble CT. In both control and oleate-treated cells, the increase in CT release with time correlated with a decrease in the amount of CT recovered from permeabilized cells as soluble CT. These results suggested that CT existed in a form that was not immediately available for release from permeabilized cells, but was recovered in the soluble fraction after cell disruption. When cells were permeabilized in 10 mM imidazole-20% glycerol-5 mM Mg2+ pH 6.5, over 80% of CT in control and over 90% of CT in oleate-treated cells was recovered bound to the particulate fraction. Essentially no CT was released from the cells. The recovery of CT in the particulate fraction required Mg2+ to be present when permeabilization was initiated. The addition of Mg2+, after cells were disrupted, did not increase CT in the particulate fraction. In untreated cells, 50% of bound CT was active. Oleate treatment increased the amount of active CT in the particulate fraction to over 70% of total. About 50% of particulate CT in untreated cells but only 15% in oleate-treated cells was extracted with 0.15 M KCl. Inactive CT was preferentially extracted by KCl. The bound CT was recovered in isolated nuclei. Overall, the results suggested that both inactive and active CT are bound to nuclear membranes, and that the activation of CT involves conversion of CT loosely bound to membrane to a form more tightly bound to membranes perhaps by hydrophobic interaction with phospholipids. This model does not involve translocation from a soluble pool.

Effects of intracellular free cholesterol accumulation on macrophage viability: a model for foam cell death

This study was designed to identify cellular responses associated with free cholesterol (FC) accumulation in model macrophage foam cells. Mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPMs) or J774 macrophages were loaded with cholesteryl esters using acetylated LDL and FC/phospholipid dispersions and were subsequently exposed to an acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitor. This treatment produced a rapid accumulation of cellular FC. The FC that accumulated due to ACAT inhibition was more readily available for efflux to 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (which removes cholesterol from the plasma membrane) than FC in untreated control cells. After a 3-hour exposure to an ACAT inhibitor, a significant increase in phospholipid synthesis was seen, followed by the leakage of LDH after 12 hours of treatment. We also observed, by electron and fluorescence microscopy, morphological indications of both apoptosis and necrosis in cells treated with an ACAT inhibitor. In addition, inhibition of ACAT for 48 hours resulted in the formation of FC crystals in MPMs but not in J774 cells. If compound 3beta-[2-(diethylamino)ethoxy]androst-5-en-17-one (U18666A), which modulates intracellular trafficking of cholesterol, was added together with the ACAT inhibitor, each of the metabolic changes elicited by the accumulation of excess FC was either diminished or eliminated. The protective affect of U18666A was not due to a decrease in cellular FC concentrations, because cells treated with an ACAT inhibitor accumulated similar amounts of FC in the presence or absence of U18666A. Thus, treatment with U18666A results in the sequestering of FC in a pool that prevents it from causing various responses to FC deposition in macrophages. The metabolic changes that were produced when these model foam cells were treated with the ACAT inhibitor parallel the pathological events that have been shown to occur in the developing atherosclerotic plaque.

Degradation of macrophage ApoE in a nonlysosomal compartment. Regulation by sterols

Macrophage-derived apoE has been shown to play an important role in the susceptibility of the vessel wall to atherosclerosis. Previous studies have shown that macrophage sterol content modulates apoE synthesis and secretion, associated with a large transcriptional response of the apoE gene. The current studies were undertaken to evaluate the existence of additional post-transcriptional regulatory loci for the effect of sterols on apoE synthesis and secretion. Using a macrophage cell line transfected to constitutively express an apoE cDNA to facilitate detection of a post-transcriptional regulatory locus, we demonstrated that preincubations in 25-hydroxycholesterol and cholesterol lead to increased apoE secretion in pulse/chase experiments. Examination of cell lysates in these experiments showed that apoE not secreted by control cells was degraded and not detectable, suggesting that the preincubation in sterols increased secretion by decreasing degradation of newly synthesized apoE. The measurement of total protein and apoE degradation in cell fractions revealed an intermediate density fraction that degraded significant amounts of newly synthesized total protein and newly synthesized apoE. In this fraction, degradation of total protein and apoE was unaffected by chloroquine but was substantially reduced by N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-norleucinal plus N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-methioninal or by lactacystin, suggesting the involvement of proteasomes. Preincubation in sterol/oxysterol or acetylated low density lipoprotein did not modify total protein degradation by this fraction but inhibited apoE degradation. Similar results were obtained using intermediate density fractions isolated from human monocyte-derived macrophages. The results of our studies indicate that newly synthesized apoE in the macrophage can be degraded in an intermediate density nonlysosomal cellular compartment, which is sensitive to proteasomal inhibitors. Alteration of cellular lipid homeostasis by preincubation in sterol/oxysterol or acetylated low density lipoprotein inhibits apoE, but not total protein, degradation in this fraction. Inhibition of the degradation of apoE in this fraction likely contributes to the increased apoE secretion observed in sterol-enriched cells.

Control of membrane phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis by diacylglycerol levels in neuronal cells undergoing neurite outgrowth

Phospholipids are the major components of cell membranes and are required for cellular growth. We studied membrane phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) biosynthesis in neuronal cells undergoing neurite outgrowth, by using PC12 cells as a model system. When neurite outgrowth was induced by exposing PC12 cells to nerve growth factor for 2 and 4 days, the amounts of [14C]choline incorporated into [14C]phosphatidylcholine per cell (i.e., per DNA) increased approximately 5- and 10-fold, respectively, as compared with control cells, reflecting increases in the rate of PtdCho biosynthesis. [14C]choline uptake was not affected. Analysis of the three major PtdCho biosynthetic enzymes showed that the activity of CDPcholine:1,2-diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferase was increased by approximately 50% after nerve growth factor treatment, but the activities of choline kinase or choline-phosphate cytidylyltransferase were unaltered; the cholinephosphotransferase displayed a high Km value ( approximately 1,200 microM) for diacylglycerol. Moreover, free cellular diacylglycerol levels increased by approximately 1.5- and 4-fold on the second and fourth days, respectively. These data indicate that PtdCho biosynthesis is enhanced when PC12 cells sprout neurites, and the enhancement is mediated primarily by changes in cholinephosphotransferase activity and its saturation with diacylglycerol. This suggests a novel regulatory role for diacylglycerol in membrane phospholipid biosynthesis.

Binding of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase to lipid vesicles: diacylglycerol and enzyme dephosphorylation increase the affinity for negatively charged membranes

The regulation of membrane binding and activity of purified CDP:phosphocholine cytidylyl-transferase (CT) by lipid activators and enzyme dephosphorylation was examined. The binding of CT to membranes was analyzed using sucrose-loaded vesicles (SLVs). Binding to phosphatidylcholine vesicles was not detected even at a lipid:protein ratio of approximately 2000 (1 mM PC). CT bound to vesicles containing anionic lipids with apparent molar partition coefficients between 2 x 10(5) and 2 x 10(6), depending on the vesicle charge. The vesicle binding and activation of CT showed very similar sigmoidal dependencies on the lipid negative charge. In addition, diacylglycerol interacted synergistically with anionic phospholipids to stimulate both binding and activation at lower mole percent anionic lipid. These results demonstrate parallel requirements for binding and activity. Dephosphorylation of CT without destabilization was accomplished using the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 1. Dephosphorylated CT required a lower mole percent anionic phospholipid than phosphorylated CT for binding to and activation by SLVs. The combination of 10 mol % diacylglycerol and enzyme dephosphorylation shifted the mole percent phosphatidic acid required for half-maximal activation from 25% to 12%. These results suggest a mechanism whereby large changes in CT activity can result from changes in the phosphorylation state combined with small alterations in the membrane content of diacylglycerol. We propose a mechanism whereby dephosphorylation on the domain adjacent to the membrane binding domain increases the affinity of the latter for a negatively charged membrane surface.

The structure of the gene for murine CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase, Ctpct. Relationship of exon structure to functional domains and identification of transcriptional start sites and potential upstream regulatory elements

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the most abundant eukaryotic phospholipid and serves critical structural and cell-signaling functions. CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CT) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the CDP-choline pathway of PC biosynthesis, which is utilized by all tissues and is the sole or major PC biosynthetic pathway in all non-hepatic cells. Herein, we present the complete structure of the murine CT (Ctpct) gene. One P1 genomic clone and six subsequent plasmid subclones were isolated and analyzed for the exon-intron organization of the Ctpct gene. The gene spans approximately 26 kilobases and is composed of 9 exons and 8 introns. The exons match the distinct functional domains of the CT enzyme: exon 1 is untranslated; exon 2 codes for the nuclear localization signal domain; exons 4-7 encompass the catalytic domain; exon 8 codes for the alpha-helical membrane-binding domain; and exon 9 includes the C-terminal phosphorylation domain. Two transcriptional initiation sites, spaced 35 nucleotides apart, were identified using 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends polymerase chain reaction. The 5' natural flanking region was found to lack TATA or CAAT boxes and to contain GC-rich regions, which are features typical of promoters of housekeeping genes. Several sites that have the potential to interact with transcription regulatory factors, such as Sp1, AP1, AP2, AP3, Y1, and TFIIIA, were identified in the 5'-region of the gene and found to be distributed in two distinct clusters. These data will provide the basis for future studies on the cis- and trans-acting factors involved in Ctpct gene transcription and for the creation of induced mutant mouse models of altered CT activity.

Acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase

Due to its presumed role in regulating cellular cholesterol homeostasis, and in various pathophysiological conditions, acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) has attracted much attention. Cloning the ACAT gene provides the necessary tool to advance molecular studies of this enzyme. The topics reviewed in this chapter include the pathophysiological roles of ACAT, the biochemistry and molecular biology of the ACAT protein and the ACAT gene, and the mode of regulation by sterol or nonsterol agents in mammalian cells. In addition, we present a working model linking the presumed allosteric property of ACAT with cholesterol trafficking into and out of the endoplasmic reticulum.

Apolipoprotein E produced by human monocyte-derived macrophages mediates cholesterol efflux that occurs in the absence of added cholesterol acceptors

Human monocyte-derived macrophages can efflux accumulated cholesterol without exogenously added cholesterol acceptors (Kruth, H. S., Skarlatos, S. I., Gaynor, P. M., and Gamble, W. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 24511-24518). Most of the effluxed cholesterol accumulates in the medium as apolipoprotein E-discoidal lipid particles. In the current study, we determined whether and to what degree cholesterol efflux from human monocyte-macrophages depended on apolipoprotein E secretion. Unexpectedly, 2-week-old differentiated monocyte-macrophages secreted similar amounts of apolipoprotein E without or with cholesterol enrichment. Apolipoprotein E mRNA levels in these macrophages were not increased by cholesterol enrichment and were comparable with levels in HepG2 cells. Without cholesterol enrichment, monocyte-macrophages secreted lipid-poor apolipoprotein E with a density >1.21 g/ml. By contrast, cholesterol enrichment of monocyte-macrophages induced the association of apoE with phospholipid and cholesterol to form discoidal particles that floated at densities of 1.08-1.10 g/ml. An anti-apolipoprotein E monoclonal antibody added to the culture medium significantly inhibited cholesterol and phospholipid efflux from the monocyte-macrophages. This showed that apolipoprotein E was required for most of the cholesterol efflux, and that apolipoprotein E did not leave macrophages with lipid but rather associated with lipid after it was secreted. Thus, 1) apolipoprotein E was constitutively secreted by differentiated human monocyte-macrophages, 2) apolipoprotein E only formed discoidal particles following macrophage cholesterol enrichment, 3) apolipoprotein E was necessary for cholesterol efflux to occur in the absence of added cholesterol acceptors and, in addition 4) the level of macrophage unesterified cholesterol was not rate-limiting for this cholesterol efflux, and 5) net phospholipid synthesis occurred in macrophages secondary to apoE-mediated loss of macrophage phospholipid. In conclusion, apolipoprotein E functions in an autocrine pathway that mediates cholesterol efflux from human monocyte-derived macrophages.

Evidence that the initial up-regulation of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in free cholesterol-loaded macrophages is an adaptive response that prevents cholesterol-induced cellular necrosis. Proposed role of an eventual failure of this response in foam cell necrosis in advanced atherosclerosis

Macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions accumulate free cholesterol (FC) as well as cholesteryl ester and appear to have high rates of phospholipid (PL) synthesis and increased PL mass. Previous short term (i.e. </=24 h) studies with cultured macrophages have shown that these cells respond to FC loading by up-regulating phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis. We propose that this response is adaptive by keeping the FC:PL ratio in the macrophages from reaching toxic levels. We further propose that one cause of macrophage necrosis, a prominent and important event in atherosclerosis, is an eventual decrease of this adaptive response. To explore these ideas, cultured macrophages were loaded with FC for up to 4 days and assayed for phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, FC and PL mass, and cytotoxicity. For the first 24 h, cellular phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis and FC and PL mass increased 3-4-fold, and thus the FC:PL molar ratio was prevented from reaching very high levels; at this point, there were no overt signs of cytotoxicity. Over the next 24-48 h, however, phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, and then phosphatidylcholine mass, began to decrease. Initially, the macrophages remained healthy and continued to accumulate FC, but eventually these macrophages, but not unloaded macrophages, became necrotic (swollen organelles and disrupted membranes). Lipoprotein dose studies indicated a close relationship between the onset of macrophage necrosis and the FC:PL ratio. To test further the causal nature of these relationships, cellular FC and PL mass were independently manipulated by using high density lipoprotein3 (HDL3) to decrease cellular FC and choline depletion to decrease cellular PC. As predicted by our hypotheses, HDL3 protected FC-loaded macrophages from necrosis, whereas choline depletion accelerated cytotoxic changes. These findings support the idea that the initial increase in phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in FC-loaded macrophages is an adaptive response that prevents cholesterol-induced macrophage necrosis. We propose that an eventual failure of the PL response in foam cells may represent one cause of macrophage necrosis in advanced atherosclerotic lesions.

Cholestane-3 beta, 5 alpha, 6 beta-triol stimulates phospholipid synthesis and CTP-phosphocholine cytidyltransferase in cultured LLC-PK cells

The present study was conducted to examine the effect, if any, of triol on the rate of total or individual phospholipid synthesis by LLC-PK cells in culture. LLC-PK cells were incubated in medium with or without 10 micrograms/ml of 5 alpha-cholestane-3 beta, 5 alpha,6 beta-triol (triol) for 24 h. Triol-treated and control cells were then incubated with medium containing either [14C]glycerol or [32P]phosphate for 1, 6 or 12 hr. In triol-treated cells, the amount of labeled glycerol and [32P]phosphate incorporated into glycerophospholipids and phospholipids (PL), respectively, were higher in triol-treated cells than in control cells, indicating a higher rate of PL synthesis in triol-treated cells. The results also showed that the increase in PL synthesis was higher in magnitude for some PL than others, thus disturbing the ratios among the PL fractions in the cell membrane. CTP-phosphocholine cytidyltransferase activity was greatly enhanced in the cytosolic as well as the particulate fractions of the triol-treated cells, which explains the increase of PC synthesis under triol effect. The rate of [3H]acetate incorporation into the total and free fatty acid fractions was significantly increased in triol-treated cells. The activation of the cytidyl transferase enzyme was related to the enhanced de novo synthesis and cellular uptake of fatty acids in triol-treated cells, which make fatty acids more available in these cells and can upregulate the enzyme. The increased synthesis of phospholipids in the triol cells and the increased level of phospholipid in these cells (as micrograms lipid phosphorus/mg cell protein) observed in our previous study indicate changes in the phospholipid head group composition of the triol cells. These changes can affect several membrane properties and membrane bound enzymes.

Interleukin 8 is induced by cholesterol loading of macrophages and expressed by macrophage foam cells in human atheroma

In order to identify novel genes expressed in macrophage-derived foam cells, we used a multigene assay to examine the expression of genes in control versus cholesterol-loaded macrophages. We compared THP-1 macrophages incubated with or without acetylated LDL (acLDL) +/- acyl-CoA:cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitor (compound 58035) for 20 h and assessed changes in mRNA of chemokines, growth factors, interleukins, and adhesion molecules. Among 49 genes examined, an increase in mRNA was observed only for interleukin 8 (IL-8) in THP-1 macrophages. Northern analysis confirmed a 3- to 4-fold increase of IL-8 mRNA and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) revealed a corresponding increase in IL-8 in conditioned medium. Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) also induced IL-8 mRNA, but native LDL had no effect. 58035 had a moderate effect on IL-8 induction by acLDL. AcLDL-induced IL-8 expression was concentration- and time-dependent. The time course of IL-8 induction paralleled that of cholesterol loading. MCP-1, a chemokine implicated in recruiting monocytes in atherogenesis, was also induced by acLDL. The induction of MCP-1, however, peaked at 1 h after addition of acLDL and returned to basal level by 20 h while IL-8 induction peaked at 8 h and was still 2-fold higher than basal level at 20 h. IL-8 induction was also observed in fresh human monocyte-derived macrophage cells treated with acLDL. Finally, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization studies using specimens of human coronary atheromas showed expression of IL-8 mRNA in a macrophage-rich area. We conclude that IL-8 is induced in macrophage foam cells as a response to cholesterol loading. The chemoattractant and/or mitogenic effects of IL-8 on neutrophils, T cells, smooth muscle, or vascular endothelial cells may contribute to the progression and complications of atherosclerosis.

Stimulation of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase by free cholesterol loading of macrophages involves signaling through protein dephosphorylation

Free cholesterol-loaded macrophages in atheromata synthesize excess phosphatidylcholine (PC), which may be an important adaptive response to the excess free cholesterol (FC) load. We have recently shown that FC loading of macrophages leads to 2-4-fold increases in PC mass and biosynthesis and to the post-translational activation of the membrane-bound form of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CT), a key enzyme in PC biosynthesis. Herein, we explore further the mechanism of CT activation in FC-loaded macrophages. First, enrichment of membranes from control macrophages with FC in vitro did not increase CT activity, and PC biosynthesis in vivo is up-regulated by FC loading even when CT and FC appear to be mostly in different intracellular sites. These data imply that FC activates membrane-bound CT by a signaling mechanism. That the proposed signaling mechanism involves structural changes in the CT protein was suggested by data showing that two different antibodies against synthetic CT peptides showed increased recognition of membrane-bound CT from FC-loaded cells despite no increase in CT protein. Since CT is phosphorylated, two-dimensional maps of peptides from 32P-labeled control and FC-loaded macrophages were compared: six peptide spots from membrane-bound CT, but none from soluble CT, were dephosphorylated in the FC-loaded cells. Furthermore, incubation of FC-loaded macrophages with the phosphatase inhibitor, calyculin A, blocked increases in both PC biosynthesis and antipeptide-antibody recognition of CT. Last, treatment of membranes from control macrophages with lambda phage protein phosphatase in vitro increased both CT activity (2-fold) and antipeptide-antibody recognition of CT; soluble CT activity and antibody recognition were not substantially affected by phosphatase treatment. In summary, FC loading of macrophages leads to the partial dephosphorylation of membrane-bound CT, and possibly other cellular proteins, which appears to be important in CT activation. This novel regulatory action of FC may allow macrophages to adapt to FC loading in atheromata.

Cell toxicity induced by inhibition of acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase and accumulation of unesterified cholesterol

Considerable evidence supports the involvement of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) in the maintenance of intracellular cholesterol homeostasis. A number of recently developed ACAT inhibitors may have potential use as pharmacological agents to reduce the development of atherosclerosis. Recently, however, reports arose describing cytotoxic effects following administration of a specific ACAT inhibitor to experimental animals. In order to address the specific intracellular mechanisms involved with the cytotoxic effect, we examined the consequences of ACAT inhibition in cholesterol-enriched mouse peritoneal macrophages. Mouse peritoneal macrophages were cholesterol-enriched by incubation with acetylated low density lipoprotein and free cholesterol:phospholipid dispersions prior to the addition of an ACAT inhibitor, either Sandoz 58-035 or Pfizer CP-113,818. The adenine pool of the macrophages was radiolabeled prior to addition of the ACAT inhibitors, in order to monitor the release of radiolabeled adenine, a technique shown to be a sensitive method to monitor drug-induced toxicity. The ACAT inhibitors were added for up to 48 h and at concentrations up to 2 micrograms/ml. These conditions resulted in an approximately 2-fold increase in adenine release. The increase in cell toxicity paralleled an increase in the cellular free cholesterol content. Reducing the cellular free cholesterol content, by the addition of extracellular acceptors, decreased the cytotoxic effects of the ACAT inhibitors. Addition of an intracellular cholesterol transport inhibitor, either progesterone or U18666A, together with CP-113,818 blocked the toxic effect of CP-113,818. These results suggest that ACAT inhibition of cholesterol-enriched macrophages increases cell toxicity due to the buildup of cellular free cholesterol. Removal of free cholesterol by the addition of extracellular cholesterol acceptors or by blocking intracellular sterol transport relieves the ACAT inhibitor-induced toxicity.