Tyrosine modification is not required for myeloperoxidase-induced loss of apolipoprotein A-I functional activities

Apolipoprotein A-I tryptophan substitution leads to resistance to myeloperoxidase-mediated loss of function

OBJECTIVE

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoAI) acts as an ABCA1-dependent acceptor of cellular phospholipids and cholesterol during the biogenesis of HDL, but this activity is susceptible to oxidative inactivation by myeloperoxidase. We tried to determine which residues mediated this inactivation and create an oxidant-resistant apoAI variant.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Mass spectrometry detected the presence of tryptophan, methionine, tyrosine, and lysine oxidation in apoAI recovered from human atheroma. We investigated the role of these residues in the myeloperoxidase-mediated loss of apoAI activity. Site-directed mutagenesis and chemical modification were used to create variants of apoAI which were tested for ABCA1-dependent cholesterol acceptor activity and oxidative inactivation. We previously reported that tyrosine modification is not required for myeloperoxidase-induced loss of apoAI function. Lysine methylation did not alter the sensitivity of apoAI to myeloperoxidase, whereas site-specific substitution of apoAI methionine to valine increased the sensitivity of apoAI to myeloperoxidase. ApoAI tryptophan residues were identified as essential in apoAI function and oxidant sensitivity as substitution of all four apoAI tryptophan residues to leucine led to loss of function, but the conservative substitution to phenylalanine retained full function and was resistant to oxidative inactivation.

CONCLUSIONS

Tryptophan modification of apoAI is primarily responsible for the myeloperoxidase-mediated loss of the cholesterol acceptor activity of apoAI.

Myeloperoxidase and inflammatory proteins: pathways for generating dysfunctional high-density lipoprotein in humans

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) inhibits atherosclerosis by removing cholesterol from artery wall macrophages. Additionally, HDL is anti-inflammatory in animal studies, suggesting that this property might also be important for its cardioprotective effects. Recent studies in subjects with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) demonstrate that myeloperoxidase targets HDL for oxidation and blocks the lipoprotein's ability to remove excess cholesterol from cells, raising the possibility that the enzyme provides a specific mechanism for generating dysfunctional HDL in humans. Shotgun proteomic analysis of HDL identified multiple complement regulatory proteins, protease inhibitors, and acute-phase response proteins, supporting a central role for HDL in inflammation. Mass spectrometry and biochemical analyses demonstrated that HDL(3) from CVD subjects was selectively enriched in apolipoprotein E, suggesting that it carries a unique cargo of proteins in humans with clinically significant CVD. Thus, oxidative modifications to HDL and changes in its protein composition might be useful biomarkers-and perhaps mediators-of CVD.

Effects of protein oxidation on the structure and stability of model discoidal high-density lipoproteins

High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) prevent atherosclerosis by removing cholesterol from macrophages and by providing antioxidants for low-density lipoproteins. Oxidation of HDLs affects their functions via the complex mechanisms that involve multiple protein and lipid modifications. To differentiate between the roles of oxidative modifications in HDL proteins and lipids, we analyzed the effects of selective protein oxidation by hypochlorite (HOCl) on the structure, stability, and remodeling of discoidal HDLs reconstituted from human apolipoproteins (A-I, A-II, or C-I) and phosphatidylcholines. Gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy revealed that, at ambient temperatures, protein oxidation in discoidal complexes promotes their remodeling into larger and smaller particles. Thermal denaturation monitored by far-UV circular dichroism and light scattering in melting and kinetic experiments shows that protein oxidation destabilizes discoidal lipoproteins and accelerates protein unfolding, dissociation, and lipoprotein fusion. This is likely due to the reduced affinity of the protein for lipid resulting from oxidation of Met and aromatic residues in the lipid-binding faces of amphipathic alpha-helices and to apolipoprotein cross-linking into dimers and trimers on the particle surface. We conclude that protein oxidation destabilizes HDL disk assembly and accelerates its remodeling and fusion. This result, which is not limited to model discoidal but also extends to plasma spherical HDL, helps explain the complex effects of oxidation on plasma lipoproteins.

Hypochlorite-modified high-density lipoprotein acts as a sink for myeloperoxidase in vitro

AIMS

Myeloperoxidase (MPO), a cardiovascular risk factor in humans, is an in vivo catalyst for lipoprotein modification via intermediate formation of reactive chlorinating species. Among the different lipoprotein classes, anti-atherogenic high-density lipoprotein (HDL) represents a major target for modification by hypochlorous acid (HOCl), generated from H2O2 by MPO in the presence of physiological chloride concentrations. As MPO was identified as an HDL-associated protein that could facilitate selective oxidative modification of its physiological carrier, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether and to what extent modification of HDL by HOCl affects the binding affinity of MPO in vitro.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We show that binding affinity of 125I-labelled MPO to HDL markedly increases as a function of increasing extent of HOCl modification of HDL. In contrast to native HDL, HOCl-HDL potently inhibits MPO binding/uptake by endothelial cells and effectively attenuates metabolism of MPO by macrophages. Reduction of HDL-associated chloramines with methionine strongly impaired binding affinity of MPO towards HOCl-HDL. This indicates that N-chloramines generated by HOCl are regulators of the high-affinity interaction between HOCl-HDL and positively charged MPO. Most importantly, the presence of HOCl-HDL is almost without effect on the halogenating activity of MPO.

CONCLUSION

We propose that MPO-dependent modification of HDL and concomitant increase in the binding affinity for MPO could generate a vicious cycle of MPO transport to and MPO-dependent modification at sites of chronic inflammation.

Myeloperoxidase: an inflammatory enzyme for generating dysfunctional high density lipoprotein

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Evidence indicates that high density lipoprotein (HDL) is cardioprotective and that several mechanisms are involved. One important pathway is a membrane-associated ATP-binding cassette transporter, ABCA1, that clears cholesterol from macrophage foam cells. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties also might contribute to HDL's ability to inhibit atherosclerosis.

RECENT FINDINGS

Myeloperoxidase targets HDL for oxidation, raising the possibility that the enzyme provides a specific mechanism for generating dysfunctional HDL in humans. Myeloperoxidase-dependent oxidation of apolipoprotein A-I, the major protein in HDL, blocks HDL's ability to remove excess cholesterol from cells by the ABCA1 pathway. Analysis of mutated forms of apoA-I and oxidized apoA-I treated with methionine sulfoxide reductase implicate oxidation of specific tyrosine and methionine residues in impairing the ABCA1 transport activity of apoA-I. The crystal structure of lipid-free apoA-I suggests that such oxidative damage might disrupt negatively charged regions on the protein's surface or alter its remodeling, resulting in conformations that fail to interact with ABCA1.

SUMMARY

Oxidation of HDL by myeloperoxidase may represent a specific molecular mechanism for converting the cardioprotective lipoprotein into a dysfunctional form, raising the possibility that the enzyme represents a potential therapeutic target for preventing vascular disease in humans. Moreover, oxidized HDL might prove useful as a blood marker for clinically significant cardiovascular disease in humans.

Detection of specifically oxidized apolipoproteins in oxidized HDL

Atherosclerosis is associated with dysfunctional HDL, and oxidation of HDL is thought to give rise to HDL becoming dysfunctional. Lipoprotein oxidation represents a complex series of processes that can be assessed by various methods. In general, oxidation mediated by 1-electron or radical oxidants gives rise to lipid hydroperoxides (LOOHs) as the primary product. These LOOHs may then undergo further reactions giving rise to secondary lipid oxidation products and/or oxidation of lipoprotein-associated proteins. Thus, LOOHs specifically oxidize Met residues of apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and A-II (the major proteins of HDL) to MetO. Here we describe an HPLC-based method to detect oxidized HDL containing specifically oxidized forms of apoA-I and apoA-II. This method may be useful to assess the early stages of HDL oxidation in biological samples.

Mild oxidation promotes and advanced oxidation impairs remodeling of human high-density lipoprotein in vitro

High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) prevent atherosclerosis by removing cholesterol from macrophages and by exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Oxidation is thought to impair HDL functions, yet certain oxidative modifications may be advantageous; thus, mild oxidation reportedly enhances cell cholesterol uptake by HDL whereas extensive oxidation impairs it. To elucidate the underlying energetic and structural basis, we analyzed the effects of copper and hypochlorite (which preferentially oxidize lipids and proteins, respectively) on thermal stability of plasma spherical HDL. Circular dichroism, light scattering, calorimetry, gel electrophoresis, and electron microscopy showed that mild oxidation destabilizes HDL and accelerates protein dissociation and lipoprotein fusion, while extensive oxidation inhibits these reactions; this inhibition correlates with massive protein cross-linking and with lipolysis. We propose that mild oxidation lowers kinetic barriers for HDL remodeling due to diminished apolipoprotein affinity for lipids resulting from oxidation of methionine and aromatic residues in apolipoproteins A-I and A-II followed by protein cross-linking into dimers and/or trimers. In contrast, advanced oxidation inhibits protein dissociation and HDL fusion due to lipid redistribution from core to surface upon lipolysis and to massive protein cross-linking. Our results help reconcile the apparent controversy in the studies of oxidized HDL and suggest that mild oxidation may benefit HDL functions.

Increased Protein Nitration Burden in the Atherosclerotic Lesions and Plasma of Apolipoprotein A-I–Deficient Mice

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the major protein constituent within high-density lipoprotein (HDL), has been associated with antiatherogenic protection by mechanisms that include reverse cholesterol transport and antiinflammatory functions. To evaluate the proposed protective function of apoA-I, proteins modified by nitrating oxidants were evaluated in the aortic tissue and plasma of mice lacking the low-density lipoprotein receptor and apobec (LA) and LA mice with genetic deletion of apoA-I (LA–apoA-I −/− ). The levels of nitrated proteins in aortic tissue quantified by liquid chromatography with online electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS/MS) were 6-fold higher in the LA–apoA-I −/− as compared with the LA mice. The quantitative analyses were corroborated by immunohistochemical and high-resolution immunoelectron microscopic evaluation of the lesions, which revealed abundant staining for nitrated proteins in the aortic root lesions of LA–apoA-I −/− as compared with the LA mice. Proteomic approaches based on affinity enrichment and site-specific adduct mapping identified unique specific protein targets for nitration in the plasma of LA–apoA-I −/− that were not present in the plasma of LA mice. In particular the nitration of fibrinogen was shown to accelerate fibrin clot formation. Another consequence of the augmented levels of nitrated proteins was the induction of humoral responses documented by the increased circulating immunoglobulins that recognize nitrotyrosine in LA–apoA-I −/− as compared with the LA mice. These data collectively support a protective function of apoA-I diminishing the burden of nitrative oxidants in these mice models of atherosclerosis.

The refined structure of nascent HDL reveals a key functional domain for particle maturation and dysfunction

The cardioprotective function of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is largely attributed to its ability to facilitate transport of cholesterol from peripheral tissues to the liver. However, HDL may become dysfunctional through oxidative modification, impairing cellular cholesterol efflux. Here we report a refined molecular model of nascent discoidal HDL, determined using hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry. The model reveals two apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) molecules arranged in an antiparallel double-belt structure, with residues 159-180 of each apoA1 forming a protruding solvent-exposed loop. We further show that this loop, including Tyr166, a preferred target for site-specific oxidative modification within atheroma, directly interacts with and activates lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase. These studies identify previously uncharacterized structural features of apoA1 in discoidal HDL that are crucial for particle maturation, and elucidate a structural and molecular mechanism for generating a dysfunctional form of HDL in atherosclerosis.

2-aminoadipic acid is a marker of protein carbonyl oxidation in the aging human skin: effects of diabetes, renal failure and sepsis

We hypothesized that the epsilon-amino group of lysine residues in longlived proteins oxidatively deaminates with age forming the carbonyl compound, allysine (alpha-aminoadipic acid-delta-semialdehyde), which can further oxidize into 2-aminoadipic acid. In the present study, we measured both products in insoluble human skin collagen from n=117 individuals of age range 10-90 years, of which n=61 and n=56 were non-diabetic and diabetic respectively, and a total of n=61 individuals had either acute or chronic renal failure. Allysine was reduced by borohydride into 6-hydroxynorleucine and both products were measured in acid hydrolysates by selective ion monitoring gas chromatography (GC)-MS. The results showed that 2-aminoadipic acid (P<0.0001), but not 6-hydroxynorleucine (P=0.14), significantly increased with age reaching levels of 1 and 0.3 mmol/mol lysine at late age respectively. Diabetes in the absence of renal failure significantly (P<0.0001) increased 2-aminoadipic acid up to <3 mmol/mol, but not 6-hydroxynorleucine (levels<0.4 mmol/mol, P=0.18). Renal failure even in the absence of diabetes markedly increased levels reaching up to <0.5 and 8 mmol/mol for 6-hydroxynorleucine and 2-aminoadipic acid respectively. Septicaemia significantly (P<0.0001) elevated 2-aminoadipic acid in non-diabetic, but not diabetic individuals, and mildly correlated with other glycoxidation markers, carboxymethyl-lysine and the methylglyoxal-derived products, carboxyethyl-lysine, argpyrimidine and MODIC (methylglyoxal-derived imidazolium cross-link). These results provide support for the presence of metal-catalysed oxidation (the Suyama pathway) in diabetes and the possible activation of myeloperoxidase during sepsis. We conclude that 2-aminoadipic acid is a more reliable marker for protein oxidation than its precursor, allysine. Its mechanism of formation in each of these conditions needs to be elucidated.

Large disk intermediate precedes formation of apolipoprotein A-I-dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine small disks

Small approximately 8.5 nm disks formed spontaneously when dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) were incubated with apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) (100:1 molar ratio). However, in a time course study, the transient production of approximately 11 nm large disks was detected and isolated by gel filtration. The intermediate large disks contained three apoA-I molecules and were stable over time; however, when additional apoA-I was added, they formed small disks containing two molecules of apoA-I. The reaction kinetics of apoA-I with DMPC LUVs was monitored by fluorescence resonance energy transfer, and two phases were observed, supporting the presence of the intermediate in the formation of small disks. The lipid dynamics of LUVs and disks were assayed, revealing the presence of sequestered lipid-protein domains upon apoA-I binding to DMPC LUVs. In addition, the lipids in the intermediate large disks were more constrained than those in the small disks. We propose that apoA-I binds with DMPC LUVs to form small lipid-protein domains on the LUV; then the domains are released to form large disks, which can mature in the presence of additional apoA-I to form small disks. Thus, the formation of small apoA-I lipid disks proceeds through the formation of a large disk intermediate.

Mechanisms of disease: proatherogenic HDL--an evolving field

It is well known that, in large populations, HDL-cholesterol levels are inversely related to the risk of atherosclerotic clinical events; however, in an individual, the predictive value of an HDL-cholesterol level is far from perfect. As a result, other HDL-associated factors have been investigated, including the quality and function of HDL in contradistinction to the level of HDL-cholesterol. Regarding their quality, HDL particles are highly heterogeneous and contain varying levels of antioxidants or pro-oxidants, which results in variation in HDL function. It has been postulated that HDL functions to promote reverse cholesterol transport. Recent studies support this role for HDL but also indicate that HDL is a modulator of systemic inflammation. In the absence of inflammation, HDL has a complement of antioxidant enzymes that work to maintain an anti-inflammatory state. In the presence of systemic inflammation, these antioxidant enzymes can be inactivated and HDL can accumulate oxidized lipids and proteins that make it proinflammatory. Under these conditions the main protein of HDL, apolipoprotein A-I, can be modified by reactive oxygen species. This modification impairs the ability of HDL to promote cholesterol efflux by the ATP-binding cassette transporter A-1 pathway. Animal studies and small-scale human studies suggest that measures of the quality and novel functions of HDL might provide an improved means of identifying subjects at increased risk for atherosclerotic events, compared with the current practice of only measuring HDL-cholesterol levels. The quality and function of HDL are also attractive targets for emerging therapies.

Myeloperoxidase impairs ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux through methionine oxidation and site-specific tyrosine chlorination of apolipoprotein A-I

High density lipoprotein (HDL) isolated from human atherosclerotic lesions and the blood of patients with established coronary artery disease contains elevated levels of 3-chlorotyrosine. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is the only known source of 3-chlorotyrosine in vivo, indicating that MPO oxidizes HDL in humans. We previously reported that Tyr-192 is the major site that is chlorinated in apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the chief protein in HDL, and that chlorinated apoA-I loses its ability to promote cholesterol efflux from cells by the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) pathway. However, the pathways that promote the chlorination of specific Tyr residues in apoA-I are controversial, and the mechanism for MPO-mediated loss of ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux of apoA-I is unclear. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we now demonstrate that lysine residues direct tyrosine chlorination in apoA-I. Importantly, methionine residues inhibit chlorination, indicating that they can act as local, protein-bound antioxidants. Moreover, we observed near normal cholesterol efflux activity when Tyr-192 of apoA-I was mutated to Phe and the oxidized protein was incubated with methionine sulfoxide reductase. Thus, a combination of Tyr-192 chlorination and methionine oxidation is necessary for depriving apoA-I of its ABCA1-dependent cholesterol transport activity. Our observations suggest that biologically significant oxidative damage of apoA-I involves modification of a limited number of specific amino acids, raising the feasibility of producing oxidation-resistant forms of apoA-I that have enhanced anti-atherogenic activity in vivo.

Myeloperoxidase-mediated oxidation of high-density lipoproteins: Fingerprints of newly recognized potential proatherogenic lipoproteins

Substantial evidence supports the notion that oxidative processes participate in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic heart disease. Major evidence for myeloperoxidase (MPO) as enzymatic catalyst for oxidative modification of lipoproteins in the artery wall has been suggested in numerous studies performed with low-density lipoprotein. In contrast to low-density lipoprotein, plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and apoAI, the major apolipoprotein of HDL, inversely correlate with the risk of developing coronary artery disease. These antiatherosclerotic effects are attributed mainly to HDL's capacity to transport excess cholesterol from arterial wall cells to the liver during 'reverse cholesterol transport'. There is now strong evidence that HDL is a selective in vivo target for MPO-catalyzed oxidation impairing the cardioprotective and antiinflammatory capacity of this antiatherogenic lipoprotein. MPO is enzymatically active in human lesion material and was found to be associated with HDL extracted from human atheroma. MPO-catalyzed oxidation products are highly enriched in circulating HDL from individuals with cardiovascular disease where MPO concentrations are also increased. The oxidative potential of MPO involves an array of intermediate-generated reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species and the ability of MPO to generate chlorinating oxidants-in particular hypochlorous acid/hypochlorite-under physiological conditions is a unique and defining activity for this enzyme. All these MPO-generated reactive products may affect structure and function of HDL as well as the activity of HDL-associated enzymes involved in conversion and remodeling of the lipoprotein particle, and represent clinically useful markers for atherosclerosis.