Increased Binding of Apolipoproteins A-I and E4 to Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins is linked to Induction of Hypertriglyceridemia.

Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is an independent factor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and a hallmark of many metabolic disorders. However, the molecular etiology of HTG is still largely unknown. In mice, severe HTG may be induced by expression of specific mutants of apolipoprotein (apo) A-I or wild type (WT) apoE4. Expression of a certain apoE4 mutant results in mild HTG, while expression of another apoE4 mutant or WT apoA-I results in normal plasma triglyceride (TG) levels. Biophysical studies of the apoA-I and apoE4 forms associated with HTG help better understand the molecular mechanisms of induction of HTG by these proteins. The studies show that the apoA-I and apoE4 forms that induce HTG have a destabilized and more loosely folded conformation in solution than their counterparts not associated with HTG. Disruption of the protein salt bridge networks by the mutations is likely responsible for the observed structural changes. Each apoA-I and apoE4 form that induced HTG show enhanced binding to model TG-rich particles. HTG appeared to positively correlate with the apolipoprotein ability to bind to TG-rich particles. This implies that in vivo, the conformational changes in the apolipoproteins that induce HTG facilitate their binding to plasma TG-rich lipoproteins. We discuss metabolic pathways leading to the development of HTG that may result from enhanced binding of the apolipoproteins to TG-rich lipoproteins in circulation. While various factors may be involved in the development of HTG in humans, it is possible that structural alterations that increase affinity of apolipoproteins to TG-rich lipoproteins may contribute to some cases of this disorder.