HDL-holoparticle uptake by alveolar type II cells: effect of vitamin E status

Alveolar type II cells accumulate vitamin E preferentially from high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and express at least three receptors that are specific for HDL. The expression of these receptors increases in response to vitamin E deficiency. Beside receptors for specific lipid transfer from HDL, cubilin and megalin, several other receptors that mediate HDL-particle uptake were found in the lung. We hypothesize that alveolar type II cells also exhibit the HDL-particle uptake and that this process can be regulated by the vitamin E status. By confocal laser microscopy and flow cytometry we showed that type II cells accumulate protein-labeled HDL-particle. Vitamin E depletion in rats increased HDL-particle uptake in alveolar type II cells and the expression of megalin. The expression of cubilin did not change. Refeeding with vitamin E reversed HDL-particle uptake and megalin expression. Long-time incubation of type II cells with phorbol myristyl acetate (PMA) reduced HDL-holoparticle uptake and megalin expression. We assume that alveolar type II cells exhibit HDL-holoparticle uptake mediated by megalin and cubilin. Megalin represents the regulated element of the megalin/cubilin receptor-cooperation and can be modulated by protein kinase C.