Effect of lysophosphatidylcholine on the structure and function of low density lipoproteins

The treatment of LDL with bee-venom phospholipase A2 resulted in the formation of lipid-protein particles (phl-LDL) with an increased content of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). At the same time, the composition of other lipids and the protein structure remained unaffected. phl-LDL, as well as LPC, abolished the hormone-induced [Ca2+] increase in platelets and platelet aggregation induced by PAF, AMP and thrombin, whereas LDL produced no effect on the hormone-stimulated increase in the intracellular [Ca2+]. The effect persisted in a Ca(2+)-free medium, indicating that phl-LDL and LPC did not abolish the mobilization of intracellular stores with the above-mentioned inducers. Neither LPC no phl-LDL affected the [Ca2+]i level in platelets and suppressed the platelet aggregation evoked by tapsigargine, a specific inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase, or by phorbol myristate acetate. The inhibitory effect depended on the LPC concentration and the time of platelet incubation with phl-LDL or LPC. The half-maximum efficient LPC concentrations were identical for LPC and phl-LDL (2-4 microM). The inhibitory effect was dependent on the LPC structure: lysophosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine displayed no inhibitory effect. The results suggest that when added to washed platelets, free LPC and phl-LDL inhibit only the receptor-dependent increase of [Ca2+]i.