Phosphatidylcholine transfer protein regulates size and hepatic uptake of high-density lipoproteins

Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2005 Dec;289(6):G1067-74. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.00194.2005. Epub 2005 Aug 11.

Abstract

Phosphatidylcholine transfer protein (PC-TP) is a steroidogenic acute regulatory-related transfer domain protein that is enriched in liver cytosol and binds phosphatidylcholines with high specificity. In tissue culture systems, PC-TP promotes ATP-binding cassette protein A1-mediated efflux of cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine molecules as nascent pre-beta-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. Here, we explored a role for PC-TP in HDL metabolism in vivo utilizing 8-wk-old male Pctp(-/-) and wild-type littermate C57BL/6J mice that were fed for 7 days with either chow or a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet. In chow-fed mice, neither plasma cholesterol concentrations nor the concentrations and compositions of plasma phospholipids were influenced by PC-TP expression. However, in Pctp(-/-) mice, there was an accumulation of small alpha-migrating HDL particles. This occurred without changes in hepatic expression of ATP-binding cassette protein A1 or in proteins that regulate the intravascular metabolism and clearance of HDL particles. In Pctp(-/-) mice fed the high-fat/high-cholesterol diet, HDL particle sizes were normalized, whereas plasma cholesterol and phospholipid concentrations were increased compared with wild-type mice. In the absence of upregulation of hepatic ATP-binding cassette protein A1, reduced HDL uptake from plasma into livers of Pctp(-/-) mice contributed to higher plasma lipid concentrations. These data indicate that PC-TP is not essential for the enrichment of HDL with phosphatidylcholines but that it does modulate particle size and rates of hepatic clearance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / biosynthesis
  • Animals
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Cholesterol, Dietary / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Lipoproteins / blood
  • Lipoproteins, HDL / metabolism*
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Phospholipid Transfer Proteins / deficiency
  • Phospholipid Transfer Proteins / physiology*
  • Phospholipids / blood
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Cholesterol, Dietary
  • Dietary Fats
  • Lipoproteins
  • Lipoproteins, HDL
  • Phospholipid Transfer Proteins
  • Phospholipids
  • Triglycerides
  • Cholesterol