In vivo characteristics of a specific recognition site for LDL on non-parenchymal rat liver cells which differs from the 17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol-induced LDL receptor on parenchymal liver cells.

Chemical modification of lysine or arginine residues of apolipoprotein B-100 in human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) with respectively reductive methylation (Me-LDL) or cyclohexanedione treatment (CHD-LDL) was applied to determine the role of these amino acids in LDL recognition by the various liver cell types. The cell association of native human LDL, Me-LDL and CHD-LDL to parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells was determined in vivo by isolating the various cell types 30 min after intravenous injection of the lipoproteins. In order to prevent degradation or release of cell-bound apolipoproteins during cell dissociation and purification, a low-temperature (8 degrees C) liver perfusion and cell isolation procedure was performed. It was found that reductive methylation of LDL inhibits the association of LDL to both parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells, indicating that lysine residues are important for recognition of LDL by both these cell types. In contrast, cyclohexanedione treatment of LDL did not influence the cell association of LDL to non-parenchymal cells. 17 alpha-Ethinyl estradiol treatment selectively increases the cell association of LDL by parenchymal cells (16-fold), leaving the non-parenchymal cell association uninfluenced. The increased cell-association of LDL to parenchymal cells is almost completely blocked by cyclohexanedione treatment of LDL (by 81%) or by methylation of LDL (by 97%). These data indicate that the arginine residues in LDL are not important for the recognition of LDL by non-parenchymal cells, whereas for the cell association of LDL to the estrogen-stimulated binding site on parenchymal cells both arginine and lysine residues are essential. The in vivo cell association of CHD-LDL or native LDL to non-parenchymal cells was lowered to the level of Me-LDL by ethyl oleate treatment of the rats, while no effect of ethyl oleate on parenchymal cells was noticed. These data suggest that the specific site for LDL on non-parenchymal cells, which need lysine residues on LDL for recognition, can be down-regulated by ethyl oleate treatment. The LDL, internalized by non-parenchymal cells, is effectively degraded. This degradation occurs at least partly in the lysosomes. It is suggested that the unique recognition site for LDL on non-parenchymal cells may be quantitatively important for serum LDL catabolism.