Lysophosphatidylcholine and 7-oxocholesterol modulate Ca2+ signals and inhibit the phosphorylation of endothelial NO synthase and cytosolic phospholipase A2.

Abstract

The oxidation of plasma LDLs (low-density lipoproteins) is a key event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. LPC (lysophosphatidylcholine) and oxysterols are major lipid constitutents of oxidized LDLs. In particular, 7-oxocholesterol has been found in plasma from cardiac patients and atherosclerotic plaque. In the present study, we investigated the ability of 7-oxocholesterol and LPC to regulate the activation of eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) and cPLA2 (cytosolic phospholipase A2) that synthesize two essential factors for vascular wall integrity, NO (nitric oxide) and arachidonic acid. In endothelial cells from human umbilical vein cords, both 7-oxocholesterol (150 microM) and LPC (20 microM) decreased histamine-induced NO release, but not the release activated by thapsigargin. The two lipids decreased NO release through a PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase)-dependent pathway, and decreased eNOS phosphorylation. Their mechanisms of action were, however, different. The NO release reduction was dependent on superoxide anions in LPC-treated cells and not in 7-oxocholesterol-treated ones. The Ca2+ signals induced by histamine were abolished by LPC, but not by 7-oxocholesterol. The oxysterol also inhibited (i) the histamine- and thapsigargin-induced arachidonic acid release, and (ii) the phosphorylation of both cPLA2 and ERK1/2 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinases 1/2). The results show that 7-oxocholesterol inhibits eNOS and cPLA2 activation by altering a Ca2+-independent upstream step of PI3K and ERK1/2 cascades, whereas LPC desensitizes eNOS by interfering with receptor-activated signalling pathways. This suggests that 7-oxocholesterol and LPC generate signals which cross-talk with heterologous receptors, effects which could appear at early stage of atherosclerosis.

• Authors: Elisabeth Millanvoye-Van Brussel, Gökce Topal, Annie Brunet, Thuc Do Pham, Valérie Deckert, Francine Rendu, Monique David-Dufilho
• Journal: The Biochemical journal (Biochem J) Vol. 380 Issue Pt 2 Pg. 533-9 (Jun 01 2004) ISSN: 1470-8728 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 14992685 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Ketocholesterols
• Lipoproteins, LDL
• Lysophosphatidylcholines
• Arachidonic Acid
• Nitric Oxide
• NOS3 protein, human
• Nitric Oxide Synthase
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
• Phospholipases A
• Phospholipases A2
• 7-ketocholesterol

Topics

• Arachidonic Acid (metabolism)
• Calcium Signaling (physiology)
• Cytosol (enzymology)
• Endothelium, Vascular (cytology, enzymology, metabolism)
• Enzyme Activation (physiology)
• Humans
• Ketocholesterols (physiology)
• Lipid Metabolism
• Lipoproteins, LDL (chemistry, metabolism)
• Lysophosphatidylcholines (metabolism)
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (metabolism)
• Nitric Oxide (metabolism, physiology)
• Nitric Oxide Synthase (metabolism)
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
• Phospholipases A (metabolism)
• Phospholipases A2
• Phosphorylation
• Umbilical Veins (cytology, enzymology, metabolism)