ApoA-I cleaved by transthyretin has reduced ability to promote cholesterol efflux and increased amyloidogenicity

J Lipid Res. 2007 Nov;48(11):2385-95. doi: 10.1194/jlr.M700158-JLR200. Epub 2007 Aug 10.

Abstract

A fraction of plasma transthyretin (TTR) circulates in HDL through binding to apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I). Moreover, TTR is able to cleave the C terminus of lipid-free apoA-I. In this study, we addressed the relevance of apoA-I cleavage by TTR in lipoprotein metabolism and in the formation of apoA-I amyloid fibrils. We determined that TTR may also cleave lipidated apoA-I, with cleavage being more effective in the lipid-poor prebeta-HDL subpopulation. Upon TTR cleavage, discoidal HDL particles displayed a reduced capacity to promote cholesterol efflux from cholesterol-loaded THP-1 macrophages. In similar assays, TTR-containing HDL from mice expressing human TTR in a TTR knockout background had a decreased ability to perform reverse cholesterol transport compared with similar particles from TTR knockout mice, reinforcing the notion that cleavage by TTR reduces the ability of apoA-I to promote cholesterol efflux. As amyloid deposits composed of N-terminal apoA-I fragments are common in the atherosclerotic intima, we assessed the impact of TTR cleavage on apoA-I aggregation and fibrillar growth. We determined that TTR-cleaved apoA-I has a high propensity to form aggregated particles and that it formed fibrils faster than full-length apoA-I, as assessed by electron microscopy. Our results show that apoA-I cleavage by TTR may affect HDL biology and the development of atherosclerosis by reducing cholesterol efflux and increasing the apoA-I amyloidogenic potential.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / metabolism
  • Amyloid / metabolism*
  • Amyloidosis / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Apolipoprotein A-I / metabolism*
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / metabolism
  • Prealbumin / metabolism*
  • Scavenger Receptors, Class B / metabolism

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Amyloid
  • Apolipoprotein A-I
  • Prealbumin
  • SCARB1 protein, human
  • Scavenger Receptors, Class B
  • Cholesterol
  • Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase