Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein and macrophage derived foam cells

In vitro study of the cytotoxicity of isolated oxidized lipid low-density lipoproteins fractions in human endothelial cells: relationship with the glutathione status and cell morphology

Toxic effects of oxidized lipid compounds contained in oxidized LDL to endothelial cells are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Glutathione (GSH) plays an important role in the redox status of the cell and in the protective effect against oxidant injuries. However, little is known about the respective effect of these different oxidized lipid compounds toward cytotoxicity and GSH status of the cell. In this report, we isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography oxidized lipid compounds from low-density lipoproteins (LDL) oxidized by copper and we examined their effects on cultured endothelial cells. Cytotoxicity and GSH status were determined after incubation of endothelial cells with crude LDL or isolated lipid fractions derived from cholesterol, phospholipids, or cholesteryl esters. Their effects on cell morphology were also assessed. Oxidized lipids coming from cholesteryl esters (hydroperoxides or short-chain polar derivatives) induced a slight but significant GSH depletion without inducing cytotoxicity. The same species coming from phospholipids induced a more pronounced GSH depletion and a cytotoxic effect which is only present for the more polar compounds (short-chain polar derivatives) and corresponding to a total GSH depletion. In contrast, fractions containing oxysterols had a larger cytotoxic effect than their effect on GSH depletion suggesting that their cytotoxic effects are mediated by a GSH-independent pathway. All together, these data suggest that LDL-associated oxidized lipids present in copper-oxidized LDL exert cytotoxicity by an additional or synergistic effect on GSH depletion, but also by another mechanism independent of the redox status of the cell.

The role of glutathione S-transferases as a defense against reactive electrophiles in the blood vessel wall

The glutathione transferases (GSTs) are a family of ubiquitous enzymes that catalyze the conjugation of reduced glutathione (GSH) with reactive electrophiles. Rat vascular tissue contains GST isoforms that represent a major cellular defense mechanism against atherogenic alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes (Misra et al., Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 133, 27-33, 1995). In this study we examined the role of GSTs in providing protection to cultured neonatal vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from the alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl cardiovascular toxins, allylamine and its metabolite, acrolein. Confluent cultured cells were exposed to 2 to 10 microM allylamine (a cardiovascular toxin that is metabolized in vivo and in vitro by VSMCs to the reactive aldehyde, acrolein) or to acrolein (2-10 microM) for 48 h; dose-cytotoxicity curves were generated utilizing a tetrazolium-dependent cytotoxicity assay. Concommittant treatment with sulfasalazine, an established inhibitor of GST, was found to markedly increase allylamine- or acrolein-induced cytotoxicity, decreasing the LC50 by two- to threefold at 50 to 100 microM sulfasalazine. A clonogenic survival assay in VSMCs exposed to these compounds for 4 h confirmed lethal toxicity and enhanced toxicity following cotreatment with sulfasalazine. Isobologram analysis (which statistically defines the limits of additivity of two independent treatments) showed that the sulfasalazine effect on both allylamine and acrolein cytotoxicity was supraadditive, or synergistic. Sulfasalazine was not cytotoxic to VSMCs in the range of concentrations that augmented acrolein or allylamine cytoxicity; total GST activity was inhibited, however, in a dose-dependent manner in that range. GST purified by GSH-affinity chromatography from pelleted untreated cells gave specific activities and kinetic constants consistent with those previously reported for rat aorta total GSTs. The catalytic efficiency (Kcat/Vm) was found to be much greater for 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal than for 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (0.058 vs 0.4 s-1 mM-1). Western blot of purified total GSTs using antibodies against rec-mGSTA4-4 revealed a single band at 25 kDa, confirming the presence of a GST isozyme immunologically similar to rat GST8-8, which is known to utilize alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyls as preferred substrates. Our data indicate that GSTs are an important defense in the vascular media, protecting blood vessels against alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl cardiovascular toxins that are involved in initiating atherosclerotic lesions.

The effect of lipid peroxidation and lipolysis on the ability of lipoproteins to influence thromboplastin activity

High, low and very low density lipoproteins and lipoprotein (a) were prepared from porcine serum. The apolipoprotein components of the lipoproteins were then isolated and resuspended in soybean lecithin. Apolipoprotein B was also resuspended in lipids more representative of those found in LDL and VLDL. Lipid peroxidation was induced in samples of all the lipoproteins and reconstituted apolipoproteins by incubation with either Cu2+ ions or hedgehog 15-lipoxygenase. Furthermore, aliquots of the samples were incubated with a mixture of lipases. The effect of native preparations and the treated samples on the procoagulant activity of thromboplastin was examined. Native HDL, apo A-II, native LDL, reconstituted LDL and apo B inhibited thromboplastin activity, whereas native VLDL and reconstituted VLDL enhanced this activity. While the ability of HDL and apolipoprotein A-II to inhibit thromboplastin was unaltered by either Cu2+ oxidation, lipoxygenase oxidation or lipolysis, VLDL and particles resembling VLDL, which acted cooperatively with thromboplastin lost their activating potential. On the other hand, LDL and particles resembling LDL changed from being inhibitory to enhancing the thromboplastin activity following oxidation, but not after lipolysis. Apolipoprotein B fragments obtained by mild digestion of this protein, expressed an inhibitory effect towards thromboplastin, while extensive degradation of the protein reduced its inhibitory potential. It is suggested that modifications of lipoproteins in vivo can lead to a hypercoagulable state by modulation of the cofactor activity of thromboplastin to factor VII.

Apolipoprotein B of oxidized LDL accumulates in the lysosomes of macrophages

We have studied the intracellular fate of the apolipoprotein B of copper-oxidized LDL in cultured J774 macrophages, using subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescence techniques. The oxidized apolipoprotein B, using cell fractionation, was located primarily in secondary lysosomes (identified using the lysosomal marker-enzyme aryl sulfatase). Light microscopy using antibodies to the mannose-6-phosphate receptor, the lysosomal membrane protein lgp 120, and oxidized LDL (biotinylated) confirmed that apo B of oxidized LDL did accumulate in secondary lysosomes rather than in endosomes. We conclude from these results that the oxidized apolipoprotein B of LDL reaches the secondary lysosomes, but is not efficiently degraded, leading to intracellular accumulation within this compartment. If this occurs in vivo it may influence the physiology of the macrophage and their subsequent roles in forming foam cells and the development of the fatty streaks of early atherosclerosis.

Peroxynitrite modification of low-density lipoprotein leads to recognition by the macrophage scavenger receptor

Peroxynitrite is an oxidant which could be formed in the vasculature by the reaction of superoxide with nitric oxide. It is capable of modifying amino acid residues and of initiating lipid peroxidation. In the present study we have shown that peroxynitrite converts low density lipoprotein to a form recognized by the macrophage scavenger receptor and that this process is associated with modification of the protein and lipid, and with the oxidation of alpha-tocopherol to alpha-tocopherol quinone.

Treatment of macrophages with oxidized low-density lipoprotein increases their intracellular glutathione content

Macrophages derived from the human monocyte cell line THP-1 or isolated from the peritoneum of C3H/HEJ mice were incubated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and the total glutathione content (oxidized plus reduced) was measured. An initial depletion of glutathione was followed by an increase, such that after a period of 24 h the glutathione content has approximately doubled. This response required the oxidation of the lipid phase of the LDL molecule, since both native LDL and acetylated LDL had little effect on glutathione levels. The response of the cells to oxidized LDL was dependent on the extent of oxidative modification of the protein. It was also found that 4-hydroxynonenal had a similar effect on THP-1 cells, and we suggest that this or other aldehydes present in oxidized LDL causes the induction of glutathione synthesis in response to an initial oxidative stress and consequent glutathione depletion. In addition, we found that both cell types possess transferases and peroxidases capable of detoxifying aldehydes and peroxides. However, treatment of cells with oxidized LDL or 4-hydroxynonenal for a period of 24 h had no effect on the activities of these enzymes.