Interaction of apo E-containing lipoproteins with the LDL receptor-related protein LRP

The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein (LRP) is a multifunctional cell surface receptor that interacts with apolipoprotein E (apo E)-rich lipoproteins, and alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2-M) in the activated state (alpha2-M*). Whether LRP is a physiologically relevant lipoprotein receptor for naturally occurring apo E-rich lipoproteins, however, is still under discussion. To address this question, we isolated beta-migrating very low density lipoprotein (beta-VLDL) from rabbits by using gel filtration chromatography. Biochemical analysis of beta-VLDL subfractions demonstrated that we isolated apo E- and cholesterol-rich triglycerides with differences in composition and size. Binding and uptake characteristics of beta-VLDL subfractions and alpha2-M* on mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM) and Hep G2 cells were examined by electron microscopy. One of the beta-VLDL subfractions, beta-VLDL(II), bound specifically to LRP on MPM and Hep G2. beta-VLDL(II) competed with the binding of alpha2-M* without addition of exogenous apo E. Furthermore, binding and uptake of beta-VLDL(II) and alpha2-M* were not affected by either lactoferrin or Ca2+-free medium. The results indicate that naturally occurring apo E-rich lipoproteins do exist and that they very likely interact with LRP via the same binding site as alpha2-M*.