Altered hepatic catabolism of low-density lipoprotein subjected to lipid peroxidation in vitro

Pulsatile versus oscillatory shear stress regulates NADPH oxidase subunit expression: implication for native LDL oxidation

Shear stress regulates endothelial nitric oxide and superoxide (O2-*) production, implicating the role of NADPH oxidase activity. It is unknown whether shear stress regulates the sources of reactive species production, consequent low-density lipoprotein (LDL) modification, and initiation of inflammatory events. Bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) in the presence of 50 microg/mL of native LDL were exposed to (1) pulsatile flow with a mean shear stress (tau(ave)) of 25 dyne/cm2 and (2) oscillating flow at tau(ave) of 0. After 4 hours, aliquots of culture medium were collected for high-performance liquid chromatography analyses of electronegative LDL species, described as LDL- and LDL2-. In response to oscillatory shear stress, gp91phox mRNA expression was upregulated by 2.9+/-0.3-fold, and its homologue, Nox4, by 3.9+/-0.9-fold (P<0.05, n=4), with a corresponding increase in O2-* production rate. The proportion of LDL- and LDL2- relative to static conditions increased by 67+/-17% and 30+/-7%, respectively, with the concomitant upregulation of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression and increase in monocyte/BAEC binding (P<0.05, n=5). In contrast, pulsatile flow downregulated both gp91phox and Nox4 mRNA expression (by 1.8+/-0.2-fold and 3.0+/-0.12-fold, respectively), with an accompanying reduction in O2-* production, reduction in the extent of LDL modification (51+/-12% for LDL- and 30+/-7% for LDL2-), and monocyte/BAEC binding. The flow-dependent LDL oxidation is determined in part by the NADPH oxidase activity. The formation of modified LDL via O2-* production may also affect the regulation of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression and monocyte/BAEC binding.

Hypochlorite induces the formation of LDL(-), a potentially atherogenic low density lipoprotein subspecies

Oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) induced by hypochlorous acid (HOCl) leading to LDL(-), a minimally oxidized subspecies of LDL, was investigated. LDL(-) is characterized by its greater electronegativity and oxidative status, and is found in plasma in vivo. Its concentration was found to be elevated under conditions that predispose humans to atherosclerosis. We found that HOCl also converts LDL rapidly to an even more oxidized state, identified as LDL(2-), which is more electronegative than LDL(-). After milder oxidation for short durations, formation of LDL(-) takes place while less LDL(2-) is formed. Under these conditions, addition of methionine not only suppressed further oxidation of LDL but also favored the formation of LDL(-) over LDL(2-), possibly by removing chloramines at lysyl residues of LDL. The presence of lipoprotein-deficient plasma did not prevent HOCl-mediated conversion of LDL to more electronegative species. It is concluded that the HOCl-mediated conversion of LDL into more electronegative species might be physiologically relevant.

Oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein by the human hepatoma cell line HepG2

The human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2 is a liver model commonly used for lipid metabolism studies. Numerous cell types have been found to oxidize low-density lipoprotein (LDL) but, to our knowledge, the effects of HepG2 cells on LDL have not been investigated. We found that LDL is modified by HepG2 cells through a peroxidative mechanism, as judged by an increase in TBARS content (which was prevented in the presence of the antioxidants vitamin E, 2,6-di-tertbutyl-cresol and probucol), increased degradation by J774 macrophages, decreased internalization by MRC5 fibroblasts, and aggregation of apo B. Aspirin and allopurinol, which inhibit cyclooxygenase and xanthine-oxidase activities, respectively, had no effect on HepG2-induced LDL modification, and neither did catalase, which dismutates hydrogen peroxide; or mannitol, which scavenges hydroxyl radicals. In contrast, superoxide dismutase, a superoxide anion scavenger, and glutamate and threonine, which alter cellular cystine uptake, prevented LDL modifications, as did the removal of cysteine/cystine from the culture medium. Oxidation of LDL by HepG2 cells might thus involve superoxide anion production and/or thiol metabolism.