Abstract

Class A scavenger receptors (SR-A) mediate the uptake of modified low density lipoprotein (LDL) by macrophages. Although not typically associated with the activation of intracellular signaling cascades, results with peritoneal macrophages indicate that the SR-A ligand acetylated LDL (AcLDL) promotes activation of cytosolic kinases and phospholipases. These signaling responses were blocked by the treatment of cells with pertussis toxin (PTX) indicating that SR-A activates Gi/o-linked signaling pathways. The functional significance of SR-A-mediated Gi/o activation is not clear. In this study, we investigated the potential role of Gi/o activation in regulating SR-A-mediated lipoprotein uptake. Treatment of mouse peritoneal macrophages with PTX decreased association of fluorescently labeled AcLDL with cells. This inhibition was dependent on the catalytic activity of the toxin confirming that the decrease in AcLDL uptake involved inhibiting Gi/o activation. In contrast to the inhibitory effect on AcLDL uptake, PTX treatment did not alter β-VLDL-induced cholesterol esterification or deposition of cholesterol. The ability of polyinosine to completely inhibit AcLDL uptake, and the lack of PTX effect on β-VLDL uptake, demonstrated that the inhibitory effect is specific for SR-A and not the result of non-specific effects on lipoprotein metabolism. Despite having an effect on an SR-A-mediated lipoprotein uptake, there was no change in the relative abundance of SR-A protein after PTX treatment. These results demonstrate that activation of a PTX-sensitive G protein is involved in a feedback process that positively regulates SR-A function.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2000

Notes/Citation Information

Published in Journal of Lipid Research, v. 41, issue 5.

© 2000 ASBMB

This is an Open Access article under the CC BY license.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-2275(20)32389-0

Funding Information

This work was supported in part by a grant from the American Cancer Society (#85-001-12-IRG to S.R.P.), a grant from the NIH (HL55487 to A.D.), and a postdoctoral fellowship from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (to S.C.W.).

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