Different transport routes for high density lipoprotein and its associated free sterol in polarized hepatic cells. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • We analyzed the intracellular transport of HDL and its associated free sterol in polarized human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Using pulse-chase protocols, we demonstrated that HDL labeled with Alexa 488 at the apolipoprotein (Alexa 488-HDL) was internalized by a scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI)-dependent process at the basolateral membrane and became enriched in a subapical/apical recycling compartment. Most Alexa 488-HDL was rapidly recycled to the basolateral cell surface and released from cells. Within 30 min of chase at 37 degrees C, approximately 3% of the initial cell-associated Alexa 488-HDL accumulated in the biliary canaliculus (BC) formed at the apical pole of polarized HepG2 cells. Even less Alexa 488-HDL was transported to late endosomes or lysosomes. The fluorescent cholesterol analog dehydroergosterol (DHE) incorporated into Alexa 488-HDL was delivered to the BC within a few minutes, independent of the labeled apolipoprotein. This transport did not require metabolic energy and could be blocked by antibodies against SR-BI. The fraction of cell-associated DHE transported to the BC was comparable when cells were incubated with either Alexa 488-HDL containing DHE or with DHE bound to methyl-beta-cyclodextrin. We conclude that rapid, nonvesicular transport of sterol to the BC and efficient recycling of HDL particles underlies the selective sorting of sterol from HDLs in hepatocytes.

publication date

  • December 16, 2003

Research

keywords

  • Cell Polarity
  • Ergosterol
  • Hepatocytes
  • Lipoproteins, HDL
  • Sterols

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 12144286290

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1194/jlr.M300440-JLR200

PubMed ID

  • 14679167

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 45

issue

  • 3