ABCA1-induced cell surface binding sites for ApoA-I, Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 27

Objective—The purpose of this study was to understand the interactions of apoA-I with cells expressing ABCA1. Methods and Results—The binding of wild-type (WT) and mutant forms of human apoA-I to mouse J774 macrophages was examined. Analysis of total binding at 37°C of 125I-WT apoA-I to the cells and specifically to ABCA1, as determined by covalent cross-linking, revealed saturable high affinity binding in both cases. Determination of the level of cell-surface expression of ABCA1 showed that only about 10 % of the apoA-I associated with the cell surface was bound directly to ABCA1. Furthermore, when 125I-apoA-I was cross-linked to ABCA1-upregulated cells and examined by SDS-PAGE, the major (90%) band migrated as monomeric apoA-I. In contrast to WT apoA-I, the C-terminal deletion mutants 190 to 243 and 223 to 243 that have reduced lipid affinity, exhibited marked reductions (50 and 70%, respectively) in their abilities to bind to the surface of ABCA1-upregulated cells. However, these C-terminal deletion mutants cross-linked to ABCA1 as effectively as WT apoA-I. Conclusions—This study demonstrates that ABCA1 activity creates 2 types of high affinity apoA-I binding sites at the cell surface. The low capacity site formed by direct apoA-I/ABCA1 interaction functions in a regulatory role, whereas the much higher capacity site generated by apoA-I/lipid interactions functions in the assembly of nascent HDL particles