Simultaneous labeling of lipoprotein intracellular trafficking in pigeon monocyte-derived macrophages

Macrophage foam cell formation resulting from the accumulation of cholesterol and cholesterol esters derived from plasma lipoproteins is important for progression of atherosclerosis. Hypothetically, intracellular processing of lipoproteins that stimulate foam cell formation differs from processing of lipoproteins that do not. To test this, we examined simultaneous subcellular trafficking of lipoproteins in pigeon monocyte-derived macrophages. Pigeon beta-very-low-density lipoprotein (beta-VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and acetylated low-density lipoprotein (Ac-LDL), differentially labeled with colloidal gold, were added in pairs to cells at 4 degrees C for 2 hours before uptake at 18 degrees C, 22 degrees C, or 37 degrees C for either 30 minutes or 2 hours. The colloidal gold distribution and percent co-labeling as observed by transmission electron microscopy were determined for organelles of the endocytic pathway. Incubations at 18 degrees C and 22 degrees C blocked lipoprotein trafficking to lysosomes. Incubation at 18 degrees C increased the percent distribution of lipoproteins in the endocytic pathway up to the early cisternal endosomes. Incubations at 22 degrees C resulted in a greater distribution of lipoproteins in the spherical late endosomes and late endosomal-prelysosomal tubular reticular compartment. The distribution in the endocytic pathway was a factor of time and temperature rather than lipoprotein type. The percentage of co-labeling of organelles for the three pairs of lipoproteins examined, Ac-LDL plus beta-VLDL, LDL plus beta-VLDL, and LDL plus Ac-LDL, was similar. Fewer noncoated and clathrin-coated pits and vesicles were co-labeled (average of 6%, maximum of 17%) than the rest of the endocytic pathway, early cisternal endosomes, spherical late endosomes, late endosomal-prelysosomal tubuloreticular compartment, and spherical lysosomes (average of 36%, maximum of 47%). The 36% of co-labeled later endocytic organelles contained an average of 58% of the labeled lipoproteins. This study suggests differential sorting does not occur for high-affinity uptake of lipoproteins.