Lipoprotein Receptor–Related Protein Expression in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Possible Involvement of Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein-2–Dependent Mechanism

Background—Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor–related protein (LRP) is highly expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of both normal and atherosclerotic lesions. However, little is known about LRP regulation in the vascular wall. Methods and Results—We analyzed the regulation of LRP expression in vitro in human VSMCs cultured with native LDL (nLDL) or aggregated LDL (agLDL) by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot and in vivo during diet-induced hypercholesterolemia by in situ hybridization. LRP expression in human VSMCs is increased by nLDL and agLDL in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Maximal induction of LRP mRNA expression was observed after 24 hours of exposure to LDL. However, agLDL induced higher LRP mRNA expression (3.0-fold) than nLDL (1.76-fold). LRP mRNA upregulation was associated with an increase on LRP protein expression with the greatest induction by agLDL. VSMC-LRP upregulation induced by nLDL or agLDL was reduced by an inhibitor of sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) catabolism (N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal). In situ hybridization analysis indicates that there is a higher VSMC-LRP expression in hypercholesterolemic than in normocholesterolemic pig aortas. Conclusions—These results indicate that LRP expression in VSMCs is upregulated by intravascular and systemic LDL. (Circulation. 2002;106:3104-3110.