Function and Significance of Very Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor Subtype Ⅱ

To explore the functions of very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDL-R) subtype Ⅱ in lipoprotein metabolism and foam cells formation, the recombinant plasmid with the two subtypes cDNA was constructed respectively, the ldl A7 cell lines were transfected and two cell lines expressing VLDL-R were obtained: one stably expressing the VLDLR with the O-linked sugar region (type Ⅰ VLDLR) and the other without the O-linked sugar region (type Ⅱ VLDLR). In the study on binding of VLDLR to their nuclein labeled natural ligands (VLDL and β-VLDL), it was found that surface binding of^125I-VLDL or ^125I-β-VLDL of ldl-A7 cells transfected with type Ⅰ VLDLR recombinant (ldl-A7-VRI) was more higher than that of ldl-A7 cells transfected with type Ⅱ VLDLR recombinant (ldl-A7 VRⅡ). After being incubated with VLDL for different time, the contents of triglyceride and total cholesterol in cells were mensurated, and the formation of foam cells and accumulation of lipid in cells was observed by oil-red O staining. The results showed that the contents of triglyceride and total cholesterol in IdI-A7-VR Ⅰ were much higher than those in ldl-A7-VR Ⅱ, and IdI-A7-VR Ⅰ could transform into foam cells notably. It was suggested that type Ⅰ VLDLR binds with relative higher affinity to VLDL and β-VLDL, and internalizes much more lipoprotein into cells. As a result, we can conclude that type Ⅰ VLDLR plays a more important role in lipoprotein metabolism and foam cells formation than type Ⅱ VLDLR。