Cholesterol transfer from normal and atherogenic low density lipoproteins to Mycoplasma membranes

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · Arteriosclerosis (Dallas); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1161/01.ATV.1.2.134· OSTI ID:5307175

Mitschelen, J J; Clair, R W; Hester, S H

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the free cholesterol of hypercholesterolemic low density lipoprotein from cholesterol-fed nonhuman primates has a greater potential for surface transfer to cell membranes than does the free cholesterol of normal low density lipoprotein. The low density lipoproteins were isolated from normal and hypercholesterolemic rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys, incubated with membranes from Acholeplasma laidlawii, a mycoplasma species devoid of cholesterol in its membranes, and the mass transfer of free cholesterol determined by measuring membrane cholesterol content. Since these membranes neither synthesize nor esterify cholesterol, nor degrade the protein or cholesterol ester moieties of low density lipoprotein, they are an ideal model with which to study differences in the cholesterol transfer potential of low density lipoprotein independent of the uptake of the intact low density lipoprotein particle. These studies indicate that, even though there are marked differences in the cholesterol composition of normal and hypercholesterolemic low density lipoproteins, this does not result in a greater chemical potential for surface transfer of free cholesterol. Consequently, if a difference in the surface transfer of free cholesterol is responsible for the enhanced ability of hypercholesterolemic low density lipoprotein to promote cellular cholesterol accumulation and, perhaps, also atherosclerosis, it must be the result of differences in the interaction to the hypercholesterolemic low density lipoprotein with the more complicated mammalian cell membranes, rather than differences in the chemical potential for cholesterol transfer.

• Research Organization: Department of Pathology, Arteriosclerosis Research Center, Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• OSTI ID: 5307175
• Journal Information: Arteriosclerosis (Dallas); (United States), Vol. 1:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CHOLESTEROL
MASS TRANSFER
LIPOPROTEINS
ACHOLEPLASMA LAIDLAWII B
CELL MEMBRANES
CELL WALL
IODINE ISOTOPES
MONKEYS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ANIMALS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIPIDS
MAMMALS
MEMBRANES
MICROORGANISMS
MYCOPLASMA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PRIMATES
PROTEINS
STEROIDS
STEROLS
VERTEBRATES
551001* - Physiological Systems- Tracer Techniques