ISRN PhysiologyVolume 2013 (2013), Article ID 186365, 20 pageshttp://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/186365

Review Article

High Density Lipoprotein: Assembly, Structure, Cargo, and Functions

Andrew J. Murphy

Haematopoiesis and Leukocyte Biology, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia

Received 21 October 2013; Accepted 28 November 2013

Academic Editors: X.-P. Chu, G. Cui, F. Moccia, and S. Trapp

Copyright © 2013 Andrew J. Murphy. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally. For close to four decades, we have known that high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels are inversely correlated with the risk of CVD. HDL is a complex particle that consists of proteins, phospholipids, and cholesterol and has the ability to carry micro-RNAs. HDL is constantly undergoing remodelling throughout its life-span and carries out many functions. This review summarizes many of the different aspects of HDL from its assembly, the receptors it interacts with, along with the functions it performs and how it can be altered in disease. While HDL is a key cholesterol efflux particle, this review highlights the many other important functions of HDL in the innate immune system and details the potential therapeutic uses of HDL outside of CVD.

1. Introduction

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the dominant cause of death globally [1], and while it is recognized as a multifactorial disease with many risk factors, atherosclerosis is responsible for the major pathology contributing to end stage heart disease [2]. Dyslipidemia, or the imbalance of plasma lipid levels, together with disturbances of intracellular lipid metabolism, underlie atherosclerotic plaque development. Such dyslipidemias include increases in both plasma total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol leading to LDL modification and increased accumulation of modified LDL in the intima of the vasculature. Alternatively and perhaps more strikingly is the highly robust inverse correlation between high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and the risk of CVD, independent of plasma LDL levels [3]. We have now come to understand that for every 5 mg/dL decease in HDL levels below the average (~50 mg/dL), there is an approximate 25% increase in the risk of myocardial infarction [3]. However, while plasma HDL levels offer prognostic value, the genetics behind differing HDL levels have failed to show association between increased HDL levels and protection from myocardial infarction [4]. Given the complex interactions of HDL genetics, function, and interplay with CVD, understanding how HDL modulates cholesterol flux is of increasing significance. Perhaps the most seminal finding of recent times relating to this is the work from Dr. Rader’s laboratory which clearly showed that HDL function (i.e., the ability to promote cholesterol efflux from a standardized cell model) was impaired from patients with CVD and was a leading predictor of risk [5]. Thus, it is imperative that HDL composition and function in normal and disease states is comprehensively understood.

2. Atherosclerosis and Lipids: A Brief Overview

Atherosclerosis is a complex, progressive disease predominantly occurring in the large arteries of the body. Early research suggested that lipids were a major contributing factor to the onset and progression of the atherosclerotic plaque. This was largely attributed to the strong correlation between hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis, along with the dominant role LDL appeared to play [6, 7]. It was also discovered that controlling lipid levels, in particular lowering LDL through both diet and drug management, had positive effects on reducing the size of the atheroma [8]. However, the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is complex with many other critical processes that contribute to its development and progression. It is generally accepted that inflammation drives plaque progression [9], evident by the secretion of proteases, cytokines, chemokines, soluble adhesion molecules, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) from a dysfunctional endothelium [10].

Increasing the levels and improving the function of HDL are attractive targets to alleviate CVD as HDL possesses a vast array of antiatherosclerotic effects. This is largely due to HDL functioning as a cholesterol acceptor, where HDL promotes cholesterol efflux from lipid-laden macrophages and takes this cholesterol back to the liver for processing. HDL also decreases the activation of leukocytes, platelets, and endothelial cells, functions as an antioxidant, and the recent discovery in regulating haematopoiesis (discussed in detail below). Unfortunately, a number of clinical evaluations of HDL raising therapies have been halted due to either off-target effects or futility, but by no means have these trials disproven the HDL hypothesis. Certainly there is still much interest and hope for HDL targeted therapies to treat people with not only CVD but other inflammatory diseases and some myeloid leukaemias. This review discusses the formation and functions of HDL and how HDL is altered in disease states.

3. High Density Lipoprotein

3.1. Overview of HDL Formation

High Density Lipoprotein is a complex particle in terms of size, structure, and the molecules that are associated with HDL. The complexity lies in that these forementioned parameters constantly change throughout the life of the HDL molecule. Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) is the main protein of HDL. ApoA-I accepts lipid to form what is known as pre-β HDL, an immature form of HDL. This form of HDL matures by interacting with enzymes, transfer factors, and cellular receptors. Indeed, the “lifecycle” of HDL is quite complex and many interactions between HDL and the surrounding environments are actively investigated. It appears that HDL plays a number of distinct and important roles throughout its maturation from a single apoA-I molecule to the mature HDL molecule; this includes not only cholesterol efflux but also important roles in innate immunity [11–14].

3.2. Structure/Composition

Circulating HDLs are quite diverse and are therefore separated into a number of subpopulations based on shape, size, density, electrophoretic mobility, and apolipoprotein composition (summarised in Figure 1). The assembly of HDL begins with lipidation of apoA-I. Once apoA-I begins to accept lipid, it forms a discoidal shape termed discoidal HDL or pre-β HDL [15]. This particle is only transient and when lecithin : cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) interacts with pre-β HDL it begins to form a spherical shape which it retains [16]. There are two major subfractions of HDL; HDL₂ with a density range of 1.063 to 1.125 g/mL and HDL₃ with a density range of 1.125 to 1.21 g/mL. These are further separated into five subpopulations based on size: (10.6 nm), (9.2 nm), (8.4 nm), (8.0 nm), and (7.6 nm) [17, 18]. Along with size and density, HDLs also vary in surface charge. Separation by agarose gel electrophoresis reveals alpha, prebeta, or gamma migrating particles [19, 20]. The alpha migrating particles are generally the spherical HDLs (HDL₂ and HDL₃), the pre-β HDL are lipid poor or discoidal HDL particles, while gamma-HDLs are apoE rich [19, 20]. HDL can also be classified into 2 major classes based on the apolipoprotein composition; one population has apoA-I only and no apoA-II, while the second population contains both apoA-I and apoA-II. ApoA-I is most likely to be equally divided between all HDLs while apoA-II is virtually only a resident of apoA-I/apoA-II HDL [21–24].

(a) Particle shape

(b) Apolipoprotein composition

(c) Particle size

Figure 1: HDL subpopulations characterised by size, shape, and apolipoproteins. (a) The two shapes of HDL and their migratory characteristics (). (b) HDL can contain apoA-I (red) or both apoA-I and apoA-II (blue). (c) The various particle sizes of HDL, from lipid-free apoA-I through to the larger more mature .

3.3. Apolipoprotein A-I

ApoA-I is a 28 kDa protein synthesized in the liver and intestine where it is released in a lipid free state [25, 26]. It is comprised of an N-terminal four-helix bundle and two C-terminal helices, essentially formed by the 22-mer repeats [25]. The amphipathic α-helices allow for the interaction of the hydrophobic face with phospholipids, while the hydrophilic face of the helices interacts with the aqueous phase [27]. Extensive research into the structure of apoA-I has been conducted over the past few decades where initial algorithms predicted apoA-I to contain as many as 8-9 helices [28, 29]. These predictions were confirmed through the use of circular dichroism and infrared spectroscopy [30–32], but has since been disproven with the deduction of the crystal structure of lipid-free apoA-I [25]. This revealed that the structure of lipid-free apoA-I contains two helical domains, a four-helix antiparallel bundle formed by the N-terminal three-quarters and a two-helix bundle at the C-terminal quarter of the protein. The crystal structure confirmed the previous hypothesis that the role of the N-terminus of apoA-I is to stabilise lipid-free apoA-I [25, 33, 34]. However, even though the crystal structure is available, the field is still challenged as to how apoA-I forms structures with phospholipids (PL) and how it interacts with its receptors. Over the decades, there have been three basic models of the structures that apoA-I/PL discs form, the models are based on two apoA-I molecules surrounding a phospholipid core and can be described as a picket fence, belt, and hairpin [15]. It is now becoming more apparent that the structure of the apoA-I/PL complex is forever changing to form spherical HDL [15, 16, 25, 35]. The most recent consensus has arisen from some elegant studies conducted by Sean Davidson’s group showing that apoA-I molecules in plasma HDL adopt a “cage-like structure” and the size of the HDL particle is determined by the twisting compaction of these apoA-I molecules [36]. This new understanding of HDL particle formation will provide new insights into how HDL interacts with other lipoproteins and how some of the apoA-I mimetic peptides can incorporate into HDL particles.

3.4. ApoA-I Variants

There are a number of naturally occurring variants of apoA-I. Four of the most well defined are , , , and () [37–40]. Both and have an arginine residue mutated to a cysteine, the substitution in occurs at residue 173 while in this occurs at residue 151 [39, 40]. The cysteine is unique to these variants as wild-type apoA-I does not contain any cysteines. However, homodimers of these variants form disulfide bonds, but this appears to have no effect on the ability to bind dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) or promote cholesterol efflux [41–43]. Although both mutations in heterozygous individuals result in decreased levels of circulating HDL, studies demonstrate the carriers are at a decreased risk of developing atherosclerosis [39, 40, 43]. Subsequently, an important study by Nissen and coworkers demonstrated the effectiveness of /PL infusions on reducing atheroma volume in patients suffering from coronary atherosclerosis [44]. While is suggested to have superior antiatherosclerotic abilities over native apoA-I, very few studies have compared these apoA-I molecules head-to-head. Alexander et al. compared human native apoA-I to by expressing these proteins in Apoa-1 −/− mice using an adeno-associated virus. They found no difference in the cholesterol efflux abilities from macrophages between the native apoA-I and suggesting that the proposed superior antiatherosclerotic effects of were unlikely to be mediated by enhanced macrophage cholesterol efflux [45]. Both and have a leucine to arginine substitution at residue 141 and 159, respectively [37–40]. This results in hypoalphalipoproteinemia and is due to the inability of these apoA-I variants to interact with LCAT [37, 46, 47]. Coronary artery disease has been correlated with these mutations but is not always observed [48].

3.5. HDL Remodelling/Interacting Proteins

There are a number of proteins/enzymes that are found on HDL and participate in remodelling HDL as it progresses from lipid-free apoA-I to mature HDL. These include the following.

3.5.1. Lecithin: Cholesterol Acyltransferase

LCAT is synthesised in the liver and secreted into the circulatory system [49]. LCAT interacts with unesterified cholesterol in discoidal or pre-β HDL to generate cholesterol esters (CE), which move to the core of HDL causing it to undergo a conformational change from a discoidal shape to a sphere [50, 51]. However, LCAT requires activation by apoA-I before it can esterify cholesterol [50]. Natural mutations in apoA-I can inhibit LCAT binding and activation to result in low plasma HDL, this is also observed in people with various mutations in LCAT leading to LCAT deficiency or fish eye disease [52].

3.5.2. Cholesterol Ester Transfer Protein

Cholesterol Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) is expressed in the liver and transfers CEs between lipoproteins [53]. There has been much debate on the role of CETP as a proatherogenic or antiatherogenic molecule [54–56]. As CETP has the ability to transfer CE from HDL to other lipoproteins such as HDL, it can remodel spherical HDL, which reduces the size of HDL and can cause the dissociation of lipid-free apoA-I [57, 58]. However patients with CETP deficiency have high levels of HDL and a lower prevalence of coronary heart disease making this an attractive drug target [56]. This data has effectively given rise to the development of CETP inhibitors (CEPTi). Unfortunately, some CEPTis have already failed in clinical trials due to off-target effects on blood pressure [59], or due to futility [60] with the less potent CETPi dalcetrapib. However, there is still hope as the safety data from anacetrapib trial revealed it has potent HDL raising effects while also lowering LDL cholesterol, and although it was not designed to test outcomes, the investigators made the encouraging observation that there was less revascularizations in the active group compared to placebo [61].

3.5.3. Paraoxonase-1

A member of the paraoxonase (PON) family PON-1 is synthesised in the liver where a portion is secreted into the plasma and is found at varying concentrations [62]. PON-1 can bind and circulate with HDL giving antioxidant properties to HDL [63]. While the precise mechanism for PON-1 binding to HDL is not completely understood, it is suggested that HDL mediates the release of PON-1 from the plasma membranes of cells as incubation of PON-1 transfected cells with HDL caused a significant increase in the media activity of the enzyme and a decrease in cell-surface activity compared to PON-1 cells alone [64]. Another area of conjecture is the type of HDL that associates with PON-1. Studies using an immunoabsorption method with an anti-PON-1 antibody demonstrated that only some HDLs from total plasma HDL were associated with PON-1, indicating that a certain species of HDL interacts with PON-1 [65]. However, there are conflicting reports on the species of HDL that PON-1 is associated with, PON-1 is suggested to interact with the smaller denser HDL₃ [66–69], while other reports suggest PON-1 interacts with the larger less dense HDL₂ [65, 70]. In any case, PON-1 plays an important role in the anti-inflammatory properties of HDL, where it functions as an antioxidant, preventing the oxidation of atherogenic lipoproteins such as LDL.

3.6. HDL Cargo

3.6.1. Proteomics

While apoA-I is the major protein by far, comprising of approximately 70% of all protein found in HDL [23, 24], there are a number of other proteins that are associated with HDL. ApoA-II is the second most abundant protein at approximately 10–20% while other apolipoproteins (A-IV, CI-IV, D, E, F, H, and M) are also found [21–24]. However, it is important to note that these molecules are not always associated with HDL and are dependent on the environment and the remodelling stage of which HDL is at [22–24].

Pioneering studies from the Heinecke laboratory have shown that HDL is an extremely dynamic molecule and carries a cargo of proteins [22]. Thus, another modification of HDL in disease is the proteome of HDL. Viasir and coworkers through a series of elegant mass-spectrometry analysis discovered that HDL carries a vast array of proteins involved in lipid metabolism, proteinase inhibition, complement activation, and the acute phase response [22]. HDL isolated from patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) had a distinct HDL proteome signature. Proteins involved in lipid metabolism: apoE, apoC-IV, and apoA-IV; oxidative stress: paraoxonase-1; and the immune system: complement factor C3, were enriched in CAD patients compared to healthy controls. Vitronectin, haptoglobin-related protein, and clusterin appeared to be enriched in control subjects but this failed to reach statistical significance. A subsequent study where HDL was isolated from newly diagnosed CAD patients prior to and 1 year after combination therapy of niacin and atorvastatin revealed that the HDL proteome is remodeled after intervention. After CAD patients had been treated with lipid modulating drugs for 1 year, their HDL became enriched in apoF and phospholipid transfer protein while the levels of apoE were reduced. There was also a trend for increased apoJ and decreased apoC-II. The functional significance of these findings warrants further research, and to date it is not fully understood. Whether enrichment of certain proteins in HDL from CAD is causative or detrimental to its function, or an adaptation to compensate for disease will be interesting to decipher.

3.6.2. Micro-RNAs

Recently, HDL has been shown to carry micro-RNAs (miRNAs), which are short noncoding regulatory RNAs that modulate biological processes by controlling gene expression through mRNA targeting and translational repression [71]. The miRNA signature in HDL particles was compared between healthy controls and subjects with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). This revealed a distinct miRNA profile between the two groups. HDL from subjects with FH had an overall increase in the amount of miRNAs compared to controls. Additionally, volcano plots revealed that 22 miRNAs were significantly different between FH and controls and this did not include miRNAs that were completely unique (present or absent). The most abundant miRNA in normal subjects was mir-135a, mir-188-5p, and mir-877 and in subjects with FH, it was mir-223, mir-105, and mir-106a. These findings were confirmed using a mouse model of FH, the Ldlr −/− mouse, which showed similar miRNa profiles as observed in the human subjects. It was also shown that the infusion of reconstituted HDL (rHDL) (free of miRNAs) into WT, Apoe −/− on chow or Apoe −/− on a high fat, high cholesterol (WTD) became loaded with miRNAs in vivo. HDL-miRNAs from WTD-fed Apoe −/− were distinctly different from chow-fed Apoe −/− or WT mice suggesting that the miRNA signatures were altered in atherosclerotic mice. It was also suggested that cellular transporters of cholesterol, such as ABCA1, can facilitate the loading of rHDL with miRNAs and thus could reflect the events occurring within the cell.

It was shown that HDL not only carries endogenous miRNAs, but can also deliver these to cells resulting in functional gene regulatory consequences. The delivery of miRNAs from HDL to hepatocytes was mediated in an scavenger receptor class B member 1 (SR-BI) dependent fashion [71]. Loading HDL with mir-223 resulted in effective delivery to hepatocytes. The functional outcome was confirmed when a reduction in Ras homologue gene, family member B, and ephrin A1, targets of mir-233 were found to be significantly down regulated.

Thus, the recent advances in HDL biology suggest that there is still much to understand of how this complex particle acts in vivo and how its functions can be hampered in disease. Exactly how these modifications of HDL alter its overall function and the precise links to innate immunity or the relevance to more broader biological pathways remains to be elucidated.

4. Cholesterol Efflux and the Formation of HDL

Cholesterol efflux is the first step of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and is described as the ability of HDL to remove cholesterol from extrahepatic tissues (specifically the vasculature) for clearance in the liver. This event is carried out by HDL through a number of pathways utilising a variety of receptors and HDL particles.

4.1. Apolipoprotein A-I

The formation of HDL: apoA-I becomes lipidated through a receptor-mediated event, where apoA-I interacts with the ATP binding cassette transporter A-1 (ABCA1) [72, 73]. This reaction gives rise to HDL. The smallest (≈80 kDa) of these disc-like structures is thought to consist largely of two apoA-I molecules, PLs and free cholesterol (FC) [74]. However, smaller lipid poor HDL particles have also been suggested to consist of a single apoA-I molecules and PL at ≈40 kDa [75]. These are suspected to be formed by spontaneous association between apoA-I and PL [76]. While apoA-I can be lipidated spontaneously, the requirement for ABCA1 to mediate efflux to apoA-I is crucial for the development of HDL as individuals with a nonfunctional ABCA1 (Tangiers Disease) have significantly reduced plasma HDL [77].

4.2. Pre-β HDL

The formation of α-migrating HDL: circulating pre-β HDL accounts for approximately 5% of total HDL in normal healthy plasma. The apoA-I molecules in pre-β HDL activate the enzyme LCAT and esterification of the FC occurs [50] resulting in the change of shape of the particle from a disc to a spherical structure. Typically termed HDL₃, this form of HDL can further interact with a number of receptors to facilitate cholesterol efflux, interact with other lipoproteins, or bind many other soluble factors. However, it has also been demonstrated that this discoidal HDL can directly interact with another transporter, ATP binding cassette transporter G-1 (ABCG1), to promote cholesterol efflux [78].

4.3. α-Migrating HDL

Mature α-migrating HDL accounts for the majority of circulating HDL and includes both HDL₂ and HDL₃. These HDL molecules are actively involved in the process of RCT. HDL has been shown to bind and facilitate cholesterol efflux from both ABCG1 and scavenger receptor-B1 (SR-B1) [79–82]. While SR-B1 interacts with a broad range of HDL particles, it predominantly effluxes to the larger CE rich HDL particles [82]. ABCG1 appears to efflux equally to both and α-migrating HDLs [78–80].

4.4. Receptors Involved in Cholesterol Efflux

4.4.1. ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter A-1

ABCA1 is a member of the ABC transporter superfamily which is divided into seven classes [83]. As their name suggests, ABC transporters require ATP to generate the energy to transport metabolites across membranes [83]. The ABC transporters can be divided into two subclasses: (1) whole transporters, comprising of two units similar in structure that are covalently linked and (2) half transporters, and these have a single structural unit and are required for either hetero- or homodimers to function. ABCA1 is a full transporter; therefore, it is not required to form dimers to function [84]. Each of the two structures of ABCA1 transverses the plasma membrane six times and includes a nucleotide binding domain, a Walker A and B site (involved in ATP hydrolysis), and a Walker C domain unique to ABC transporters [83]. ABCA1 is also predicted to have 2 large extracellular loops that are highly glycosylated and linked by disulfide bonds [83, 85]. ABCA1 is under the transcriptional regulation of the nuclear receptors liver X receptor (LXR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR) and as expected, it is markedly upregulated when cells are overloaded with cholesterol [86–88].

As mentioned earlier, ABCA1 facilitates efflux of cholesterol and PL to lipid-poor apoA-I [72, 73]. Based on the homology of ABCA1 to other ABC transporters, there are suggestions that ABCA1 functions with a flippase activity to transfer lipids from the inside of the plasma membrane to the acceptor apoA-I [72, 89]. There are a number of theories detailing how ABCA1 delivers lipids to apoA-I, two of the most accepted until recently were the exocytosis model and the retroendocytosis model. The exocytosis model proposed that intracellular cholesterol is parcelled into transport vesicles possibly in the Golgi apparatus and these vesicles translocate to the plasma membrane and associate with ABCA1 which then facilitates the removal of cholesterol [90]. The retroendocytosis model suggests that apoA-I first docks with ABCA1 and that this complex is endocytosed in vesicles to intracellular sites of cholesterol where ABCA1 pumps lipids into the vesicle lipidating apoA-I. This complex can then be exocytosed and HDL is released [91–94]. Studies crediting this model have demonstrated the rapid cycling of ABCA1 between late endosomal/lysosomal compartments which contain apoA-I and have shown that in ABCA1 defective cells, these compartments accumulate cholesterol [95, 96]. The dominant model for ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux is yet to be confirmed, and may depend on the location of cells effluxing to apoA-I as the retroendocytosis model may be a mechanism for movement of HDL into the intimal region of the vessel [93, 94]. However, a study by Vedhachalam and co-workers described a three-step process for efflux to apoA-I [97]. describes the initial binding of apoA-I to ABCA1 which facilitates the stabilisation of ABCA1 at the plasma membrane, triggering a number of signalling events or posttranslational modifications of apoA-I (discussed in detail below). Further, this binding of apoA-I leads to PL translocation through the transporter, ultimately resulting in strain of the membrane due to asymmetrical PL packing, which needs to be relieved. involves the plasma membrane protruding to the extracellular space, creating space between PL polar groups, which allows for the amphipathic α-helices of apoA-I to enter. is the rate-limiting step, involving the solubilisation of the PL bilayer surrounding apoA-I, once this is achieved, discoidal HDL particles are released.

4.4.2. ABCA-1 Posttranslational Modifications

There are a number of intracellular phosphorylation sites in ABCA1 that appear to be largely involved in the stabilisation/degradation of ABCA1. These include the following.

4.4.3. Destabilisation/Decreased Activity

PEST Motif. A proline-glutamate-serine-threonine (PEST motif, Figure 2) is located between residues 1283–1306 in the first intracellular loop. Phosphorylation of T1286 and T1305 in the PEST motif facilitates proteolysis by an unknown member of the calpain protease family [98, 99].

Figure 2: ABCA1 cholesterol efflux and stabilising/destabilising modifications. JAK-2 (red) is activated upon apoA-I binding, resulting in autophosphorylation of JAK-2, stabilisation of ABCA1, increased apoA-I binding, and cholesterol efflux. Phosphorylation of the tyrosine residues in the PEST motif (indicated by the black triangles) results in ABCA1 degradation. Protein Kinase A phosphorylates serines (indicated by the red diamonds) required for lipid transport. Protein Kinase CK2 (indicated by the black circles) phosphorylates ABCA1 and down-regulates the transporters activity.

Protein Kinase CK2. Protein kinase CK2 (PKCK2, Figure 2) is a serine/threonine kinase which phosphorylates ABCA1 at T1242, T1243, and S1255 [100]. Site-directed mutagenesis preventing PKC phosphorylation of ABCA1 lead to an increase in lipid flipping, apoA-I binding to cells, and efflux [100]. This suggests that PKCK2 is a down-regulator of ABCA1 activity.

4.4.4. Stabilisation/Increased Activity

Protein Kinase A. Protein kinase A (PKA, Figure 2) phosphorylates serines 1042 and 2054. It has been demonstrated that the activation of PKA by cyclic AMP (cAMP) is required for optimal lipid transport but has no net effect on apoA-I binding to ABCA1 [101, 102].

Protein Kinase C. Protein kinase C (PKC) plays a role in ABCA1 stabilisation and there are suggestions that it may also influence the lipid transport activity of ABCA1. Inhibition of PKC has been demonstrated to decrease cholesterol efflux to both HDL and apoA-I, whereas activation of PKC increases efflux to these acceptors. The latter finding however was described prior to the discovery of ABCA1 [103–106] and warrants confirmation.

Janus Kinase-2. The Janus kinase (JAK, Figure 2) family of tyrosine kinases (JAK-1, JAK-2, JAK-3, and TyK2) are receptor-associated kinases involved in cytoplasmic signal transduction pathways that are initiated when cytokines interact with their respective receptors [107]. This cytokine induced activation of the JAK family results in the recruitment and activation of the signal transducer and activation of transcription (STAT) family. Recently JAK-2 has been demonstrated to play a pivotal role in cholesterol efflux to apoA-I through ABCA1. It has been shown that when JAK-2 is inhibited in ABCA1 expressing cells, cholesterol and phospholipid efflux to apoA-I is reduced. Furthermore, the ability of apoA-I to bind to ABCA1 is markedly attenuated. Inhibition of JAK-2 has no effect on either ABCA1 expression (membrane or total) or ABCA1 phosphorylation. Interestingly, cells expressing ABCA1 acutely incubated with apoA-I lead to autophosphorylation of JAK-2. This autophosphorylation is dependent on apoA-I interacting with ABCA1 and occurs rapidly (less than 1 min). ABCA1 null cells incubated with apoA-I show no JAK-2 activation. A mutant cell line (γ2A) lacking JAK-2 confirmed that JAK-2 is required for cholesterol and phospholipid efflux to apoA-I and apoA-I binding to ABCA1.

4.4.5. ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter A-1

ABCG1 is also a member of the ABC transporters, but unlike ABCA1, ABCG1 is a half transporter and requires homodimerization to function. ABCG1 promotes cholesterol efflux to mature HDL particles and is under the transcriptional control of LXR/RXR [79]. Interestingly, deletion of Abcg1 in mouse models of atherosclerosis generally results in a decrease in lesion size [108–110]. However, some studies have observed increased lesion in mice deficient in Abcg1 and this seems to depend on the duration of the study and stage of the atherosclerotic lesion (i.e., developing versus advanced) [111, 112]. It appears that with the longer studies, more macrophage apoptoses occur which likely explain the decreased lesion size [110]. ABCG1 protects macrophages from apoptosis by facilitating the efflux of the toxic oxysterols, which are present in oxidized LDL within the vessel wall [113]. Deletion of Abcg1 along with Abca1 also makes macrophages more susceptible to apoptosis during efferocytosis due to increased assembly of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase (NADPH) oxidase 2 complex, which drives Jnk activation and initiation of cell death pathways [114]. While the atherosclerotic lesions in Abcg1 deficient mice are smaller, they do appear to be more inflamed. This is due to Abcg1 −/− macrophages being more responsive to toll like receptor ligands and therefore producing more inflammatory cytokines and enhancing the recruitment of neutrophils [115]. We have also observed that macrophages deficient in Abcg1 and Abca1 have significantly impaired migration, suggesting that these cells become trapped in the lesion [116]. We found that cholesterol became trapped on the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane and increased Rac1 plasma membrane localization and activation. Thus, even though deletion of Abcg1 results in smaller lesions, these lesions are likely to be less stable and more inflammatory, suggesting that ABCG1 still functions as a protective transporter.

As described above, Abcg1 deficiency in macrophages promotes apoptosis; however, its deletion in other hematopoietic cells results in hyperproliferation. Lymphocyte proliferation was found to be under the control of LXR which modulates cellular cholesterol levels, in an ABCG1-dependent manner [117]. In line with this finding, Bensinger et al. found that lymphocyte proliferation was increased in Abcg1 −/− mice [117]. Abcg1 deficiency also causes marked neutrophilia and monocytosis, attributable to the expansion and proliferation of hematopoietic stem and multipotential progenitor cells (HSPCs) [115, 118], where ABCG1 mediates efflux to HDL or HSPC-intrinsic apoE [118, 119].

4.4.6. Scavenger Receptor-B1

SR-B1 is a member of the B class scavenger receptors with high homology to CD36; however, these receptors play quite distinct roles in lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis [120–122]. SR-B1 has a large extracellular domain and two transmembrane domains with short N- and C-terminal domains [123]. It is highly expressed in the liver and on macrophages [124] and has also been identified in other tissues and cells including the brain, intestine, endothelial cells, and astrocytes [125–127]. SR-B1 like CD36 has a number of ligands including modified and native LDL, VLDL, and HDL [121, 124]. However, SR-B1 also possesses the classical scavenger receptor abilities on phagocytic cells recognising apoptotic cells, advanced glycation endproducts (AGE), and oxidised phospholipids amongst other ligands, for removal from inflamed or necrotic tissue [128–130]. SR-B1 plays an important role in cholesterol homeostasis by interacting with HDL. Of the various HDL subpopulations, SR-B1 can interact with discoidal HDL and spherical HDL, but it preferentially binds to the larger HDL species and has little to no affinity for lipid-poor apoA-I [121, 131–133]. After apoA-I takes on lipid and forms HDL, it undergoes conformational changes allowing the interaction with SR-B1 [132, 134, 135]. Distinct from other lipoprotein receptors, SR-B1 displays bidirectional cholesterol transfer to HDL [124]. Therefore, SR-B1 has the ability to facilitate selective uptake CE and other lipids from both HDL and LDL into the cell, and either uptake or donate unesterified cholesterol [124, 136–142]. SR-B1 also contains a PDZK1-binding motif in the intracellular C-terminal tail which is critical for its expression on the plasma membrane [123]. HDL has also been shown to stimulate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and release NO [143], and it has been discovered that along with targeting SR-B1, the PDZK1 motif is required for HDL to signal to eNOS [144]. HDL through apoA-I binds to SR-B1 to signal to Src inturn activating PI3K (Figure 3). While the lysophospholipids engage the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P₃) receptor also stimulating PI3K, which activate MAPKs and Akt phosphorylation of eNOS resulting in the production of NO, which is how HDL is thought to promote vasodilation [145].

Figure 3: HDL signaling to eNOS through SR-B1 and S1P₃. ApoA-I provokes a signalling cascade through SR-BI (green arrows) stimulating PI3K via Src. The lysophospholipids bind the S1P₃ receptor and through the G proteins also stimulate PI3K (blue arrows). Cross-talk between the two pathways is depicted in red arrows implementing the involvement of Akt and MAPK amplifying the phosphorylation of eNOS.

5. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of HDL

It is well established that increased levels of HDL protect against atherosclerosis [3, 146]. As discussed above, much of the atheroprotective effects of HDL stem from its capacity to remove cholesterol from extrahepatic tissues and to deliver it to the liver for disposal in a process commonly termed reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). However, other features of HDL, including stimulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and transforming growth factor- (TGF-), inhibition of the oxidation of LDL, and the release of proinflammatory molecules from a variety of cells, have been suggested to contribute to its beneficial effects [143, 147, 148]. HDL also regulates the expression of adhesion molecules on leukocytes and endothelial cells contributing to its anti-inflammatory properties. This data has received wide-spread interest particularly in view of the concept that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease [149, 150]. HDL has also been shown to act as an anticoagulant [151, 152].

5.1. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of HDL

5.1.1. Endothelial Cells

Endothelial function is essential for the regulation of blood flow and pressure via the release of soluble factors which regulate vascular tone. HDL has been implicated in the regulation of key molecules in this process on both the endothelial and circulating cells. In fact, HDL has been shown to protect against endothelial damage in a number of in vitro and in vivo models [44, 149, 153].

One of the most potent roles of HDL on endothelial cells is to inhibit leukocyte adhesion. This was evident when endothelial cells were simulated with oxLDL in the presence or absence of HDL. Pretreatment of HDL resulted in a significant reduction in the adhesion of U937s (monocytic cells) [154]. Also, HDL has been consistently shown to reduce the expression of adhesion molecules in both endothelial cells and leukocytes [149, 150, 155, 156]. This anti-inflammatory effect of HDL on endothelial cells is only observed by preincubating endothelial cells with HDL followed by stimulation with TNF-α [154]. Importantly, the inhibition by HDL appears time dependent: a preincubation for at least 30 mins is required for an effective anti-inflammatory action. HDL does not appear to be able to reduce endothelial adhesion molecule expression after the endothelial cells have been activated.

C-reactive protein (CRP) has been demonstrated to have inflammatory actions on both leukocytes and endothelial cells [157, 158]. Wadham et al. [159] demonstrated the ability of HDL to prevent endothelial cell activation and expression of adhesion molecules in response to CRP. This effect was shown to be mediated by PLs as PL vesicles, but not apoA-I, was able to reduce the expression of adhesion molecules, suggesting that lipids may play a major role in this signalling event.

It is debatable as to which constituents of HDL play the key role in inhibiting the expression of adhesion molecules. As stated above, there is convincing evidence that lipid-free apoA-I can mimic some of the actions of HDL. However, several studies suggest that HDL-associated lysosphingolipids are capable of inhibiting adhesion molecule expression on endothelial cells [160, 161]. Endothelial cells stimulated with TNF-α show a dramatic increase in the levels of th adhesion molecule E-selectin; this activation is significantly reduced when cells are preincubated with HDL. A similar reduction in cell activation was found when cells were treated with either sphingosylphosphorylcholine or lysosulfatide, the two lysosphingolipids associated with HDL [161], suggesting that these HDL constituents may be responsible for this effect.

5.1.2. Leukocytes

Adhesion of leukocytes to the vascular endothelium is mediated not only by endothelial adhesion molecules, but also by adhesion molecules expressed on leukocytes. We have shown that HDL and apoA-I decrease the activation of human primary monocytes and neutrophils [162, 163]. This effect was dependant on lipid removal and disruption of membrane lipid-rafts, resulting in the inhibition of a key leukocyte adhesion molecule CD11b. We also found that the decrease in leukocyte activation translated into reduced adhesion under settings of shear-flow to platelets and endothelial cells. ApoA-I has been shown to prevent the oxidative burst of neutrophils [164]. In this context, neutrophil degranulation and superoxide release stimulated by IgG were dose dependently inhibited by apoA-I [165]. Diederich and co-workers [166] discovered that cholesterol removal from monocytes using HDL, apoA-I, or cyclodextrin inhibits monocyte spreading under static conditions in response to Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). This appeared to be mediated through a decrease in cell-division cycle 42 (Cdc42) which may or may not be a result of a decrease in intracellular cholesterol. Taken together, HDL and apoA-I appear to inhibit monocyte differentiation into macrophages.

HDL and apoA-I can also indirectly protect leukocytes from activation during infection. This is thought to occur through the ability of both to bind and sequester LPS [167–172]. In vivo studies conducted in mice and rats have demonstrated that both HDL and apoA-I can reduce leukocyte adhesion and protect against the inflammatory effects of LPS, largely thought to be mediated via the protein component of HDL (i.e., apoA-I) [172–174]. A study by Thaveeratitham et al. demonstrated that rHDL dose dependently decreases monocyte activation to LPS; however, this was not seen by mature HDL, giving further evidence that apoA-I may be the major protective molecule [173, 175].

Leukocytes are attracted to sites of vascular inflammation by chemokines. Bursill and co-workers discovered that administration of apoA-I in WTD fed Apoe −/− mice reduced the plasma levels of CCL2 and CCL5. They also found that the chemokine receptors CCR2 and CX3CR1 expression in the atherosclerotic lesion was also reduced [176]. Incubation of monocytes with rHDL also reduced the expression of CCR2 and CX3CR1 suggesting that HDL suppresses the ability of the monocytes to sense chemokines involved in their recruitment to the atherosclerotic lesion.

Once monocytes leave the circulation and migrate into the atherosclerotic lesion, they can polarize into two main populations: M1—classically activated, or M2—alternatively activated. Studies in mice where atherosclerotic lesion regression was assessed using various methods to increase HDL levels have shown that inflammatory genes associated with M1 macrophages, such as TNF-α, IL-1, and MCP-1, are down regulated, with a concomitant increased in genes associated with M2 macrophages including Arginase 1, Mannose Receptor, and IL-10 [177]. The ability of HDL to enhance macrophage polarization to the M2 population was recently shown. Sanson et al. found that incubation of mouse bone marrow derived macrophages when cultured in the presence of M2 promoting conditions (IL-4) and HDL had a more profound M2 phenotype compared to those cultured with IL-4 alone. Through the use of genetic knockout models, they showed that HDL was able to achieve this enhanced M2 polarization of macrophages by signaling through STAT-6 [178]. Therefore, the ability of HDL to promote the polarization to the M2 phenotype could aid in the resolution of inflammation, and in the context of atherosclerosis promote lesion regression and stability. However, it is not clear if HDL can just influence macrophage polarization as the cell matures or if HDL can alter an already polarized macrophage. While the area of macrophage subsets remains controversial, perhaps it is more important to control the production of inflammatory cytokines from macrophages irrespective of the type of macrophage they are, as these are the signaling molecules that go one to modulate the immune response.

Hematopoiesis. Hematopoiesis is the term used to describe the production of the entire cell populations found in circulation that are derived from hematopoietic stem cells. Perhaps the most recent advance in our understanding of the role that cholesterol efflux and HDL plays is the regulation of hematopoiesis. This was discovered in a seminal study by Yvan-Charvet et al., where they observed profound leukocytosis, namely, of the myeloid lineage, in mice deficient in the 2 key cholesterol efflux transporters ABAC1 and ABCG1 [118]. It was found that deletion of these genes resulted in increased cholesterol rich regions in the membranes of the hematopoietic stem and multipotential progenitor cells (HSPCs) in the bone marrow. This leads to increased cell surface expression of the IL-3R common -subunit, which forms a heterodimer with the IL-3R to sense the highly proliferative cytokine, IL-3. Overexpressing apoA-I using a transgene completely normalized these defects and returned leukocyte levels to the normal range. We later went on to discover that apoE was highly expressed in the HSPCs and deletion of Apoe also resulted in expansion of the HSPCs and myeloid blood cells [119]. This was found to be due to a cell intrinsic process as apoE is a key molecule in promoting cholesterol efflux from the cell it is expressed in via ABCA1 and ABCG1. When cholesterol efflux pathways were enhanced in the Apoe −/− mice, either by upregulating the ABC transporters by administration of an LXR agonist or infusion of rHDL, the myeloproliferative phenotype was suppressed.

Both the Apoe −/− and the Abca1 −/−/Abcg1 −/− mice also displayed extensive extramedullary hematopoiesis, that is, mobilization of HSPCs to the spleen where they actively produce monocytes and neutrophils [118, 119]. This was also inhibited by the activation of cholesterol pathways in the respective models [118, 119]. As HSPC mobilization to the spleen is the key initiating step in promoting extramedullary hematopoiesis, we investigated the role of the cholesterol efflux pathway in regulating HSPC mobilization from the bone marrow. This is an important aspect of CVD as it has recently been shown that the spleen is a major factory of the production of monocytes that can populate the atherosclerotic lesion [179]. Even more strikingly, postmyocardial infarction, the majority of the cells that are attracted to the infarct are splenic in origin and these cells also contribute to secondary events [180–182]. The mechanism behind the increased mobilization of HSPCs to the spleen was found to occur by the disruption of two key pathways, centered around an initial key event. Initially, defective cholesterol efflux from splenic macrophages and dendritic cells leads to the increased production of IL-23, which promoted the IL-23/IL-17/G-CSF signaling axis and enhanced production of neutrophils [183]. The G-CSF signaling to the bone marrow progenitor cells caused an imbalance in myeloid cell production, favoring the production of neutrophils over monocytic lineages. The over production of neutrophils then caused two important processes to occur. Firstly, the neutrophils provided a more proteolytic environment in the bone marrow, resulting in the cleavage of a key HSPC retention receptor CXCR4. Secondly, the lineage skewing away from monocytes/macrophages decreased that support network, reducing the CXCR4 ligand CXCL12 on mesenchymal stem cells and osteoblasts. Increasing HDL levels by the apoA-I transgene or infusion of rHDL reversed these processes. This was also examined in the fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor-3 model of acute myeloid leukemia. Again, increasing HDL was able to suppress extramedullary hematopoiesis [183].

We have also recently discovered a role for HDL in regulating the production of platelets. Deletion of the cholesterol transporter Abcg4 resulted in increased atherosclerosis that was associated with thrombocytosis [184]. The mechanism was found to be due to enhanced signaling via c-MPL, the receptor of megakaryocyte progenitors cells (MkPs) that sense the key platelet production growth factor thrombopoietin (TPO). Deletion of Abcg4 resulted in increased cell membrane cholesterol and disruption of an important negative feedback loop for c-MPL. The Src kinase Lyn, which is usually phosphorylated after TPO binds c-MPL, was no longer able to phosphorylate and activate a key E3 ubiquitin ligase c-CBL that ubiquitinates c-MPL targeting it for degradation. With this pathway disrupted, more c-MPL was recycled to the surface of the MkPs, increasing surface levels and promoting more proliferative signaling. Infusion of rHDL to promote cholesterol efflux, which was uniquely ABCG4 dependent, normalized the proliferation of the MkPs and returned circulating platelet levels to normal.

We further explored the therapeutic potential of rHDL in reducing platelet production by examining the effects of rHDL infusion in a mouse model of myelofibrosis and essential thrombocytosis expressing a mutant form of c-MPL (), found in human myeloproliferative neoplasms [185, 186]. Infusion of rHDL was able to reduce platelet levels in the c-MPL mutant expressing mice, again dependent on ABCG4. Together, these data suggest that HDL therapy has the ability to suppress extramedullary hematopoiesis, monocytosis, and thrombosis in models of atherosclerosis and myeloproliferative neoplasms.

5.1.3. Platelets

HDL has also been shown to have antithrombotic effects. Platelets express the full repertoire of HDL/apoA-I receptors (including ABCA1 [152] and SR-B1 [187]) and interact with HDL and apoA-I [188–190]. HDL can inhibit thrombin induced platelet aggregation and fibrinogen binding [151]. The infusion of in rats dramatically decreased thrombus formation compared to a vehicle control. This was demonstrated by time to thrombus formation, thrombus weight, and fibrin deposition [191]. The mechanism is yet to be confirmed but it is proposed that HDL/apoA-I may be directly causing decreases in second messengers such as 1,2 diacylglycerol (DAG), inositol 1,4,5-tris-phosphate, and intracellular calcium () [151]. Another explanation could be that HDL/apoA-I acts on the endothelium to stimulate the release of NO which in turn can act on platelets [188, 190]. In type 2, diabetics infusion of rHDL significantly reduced platelet activation and aggregation [192]. As mentioned above, we have recently shown that HDL can also act upstream and control the production of platelets, which will also have important implications for its antiplatelet effects [184].

5.1.4. Other Roles in the Innate Immune Response Antiviral and Antibacterial

The protective roles of HDL/apoA-I may also extend to preventing viral and bacterial infections. Srinivas and co-workers demonstrated the antiviral capabilities of apoA-I included the reduction of viral yield and cell penetration [193]. Studies conducted in Oncorhynchus mykiss (Rainbow trout) have confirmed the expression of apoA-I in some of the most important epithelial and mucosal layers [13]. HDL and apoA-I have also been demonstrated to have antimicrobial properties [12, 194] inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis [173, 195], a finding largely attributable to apoA-I. Another innate immune related role of apoA-I which was also discovered in fish is its regulation of the complement system [11].

5.2. Effects of Increasing HDL in Animal Models of Atherosclerosis

A number of studies using both mouse and rabbit models demonstrating the in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of HDL have been reported. Increasing apoA-I levels by, for example, the creation of Apoa-I transgenic mice on atherogenic backgrounds (Apoe −/− and Ldlr −/−) causes a decrease in plaque size and a restoration of vascular tone [196]. Conversely, the generation of Apoa-I −/− mice have impaired reverse cholesterol transport, increased lesion size, and increased monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells [197]. Another interesting model demonstrating the anti-inflammatory properties of HDL in rabbits was described by Nicholls et al. [153]. In this paper, the authors used a periarterial collar to induce infiltration of leukocytes into the arterial wall, an early event in the development of the atherosclerotic plaque. Infusion of rHDL or apoA-I inhibited the infiltration as well as the expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1. Furthermore, recent studies by Puranik and co-workers [198] showed that low levels of lipid-free apoA-I administered up to 9 hours after nonocclusive collar injury to the carotid artery in rabbits “rescued” or halted the progression of inflammation by decreasing neutrophil activation and accumulation in the vessel wall. This has implications with regard to the importance of the anti-inflammatory effects of apoA-I on circulating leukocytes. We explored the anti-inflammatory effects of apoA-I in vivo using intravital microscopy [163]. Administration of apoA-I to mice prestimulated with TNF-α resulted in decreased leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium and increased tethering and rolling velocity, suggesting that the leukocytes were “letting go” of the inflamed endothelium. This also correlated with a reduction in CD11b expression of the circulating neutrophils [163].

A separate development, briefly mentioned above, in the study of the antiatherogenic effect of HDL was the exciting discovery of the naturally occurring variant of apoA-I, , first described in 1980 by Franceschini et al. [43], who identified a family from Limone sur Garda, Italy, with a lipoprotein disorder resulting in abnormally low levels of HDL cholesterol. The intriguing nature of the finding was that despite the low HDL levels, this family exhibited no atherosclerosis. has since been well characterised and is a single amino acid mutation (Y192), favouring formation of dimers, shortened plasma half-life, and rapid catabolism of apoA-I [199]. The structural arrangement of increases its affinity for lipids and facilitates its easy removal [200]. In apoE deficient mice, recombinant /PL complex significantly reduced aortic atherosclerosis, lipid content, and macrophage infiltration. /PL also promoted cholesterol efflux significantly above basal levels [201]. Similar results were observed with in Sprague Dawley rats [191] where reduced total and HDL cholesterol and platelet aggregation. In addition, chemical induced thrombosis was delayed and thrombus weight significantly reduced compared to control rats. These results provide compelling evidence for the therapeutic application of either apoA-I or .

In addition to the regulation of adhesion molecules, there is an emerging role for HDL in endothelial repair where HDL has been shown to dose dependently facilitate endothelial cell migration in an in vitro wound model, a process which appears to be NO dependant [202]. The importance of both HDL and SR-B1 in endothelial repair was confirmed in vivo through the use of perivascular electric injury to the carotid artery of mice. This injury model was applied to both Apoa-I −/− and Srb1 −/− mice, respectively. Both these mice displayed a diminished ability to repair the wounded endothelium, suggesting the importance of not only HDL but also of its receptor, SR-B1, and subsequent downstream signalling. The inability to repair the denuded endothelium was overcome by reexpressing either apoA-I or SR-B1 [202]. This repair along with endothelial cell migration may also be attributed to the ability of HDL to stimulate the release of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) into the circulation and stimulate TGF- release [148, 203]. Tso and co-workers demonstrated the beneficial role that HDL plays in re-endothelialisation in mice injured with LPS. A significant increase in the proportion of aortic endothelial cells positive for Sca-1, a marker of EPCs, was observed after administration of rHDL. This was confirmed in a separate study employing an adenoviral transfer system of human apoA-I into Apoe −/− mice, demonstrating a clear increase in bone marrow-derived EPCs [204], which initiated an increase in endothelial repair evident by CD31⁺ endothelial cells [204]. Similarly, HDL increases TGF- expression in endothelial cells, an effect observed with treatment of apoA-I or lysophospholipids [148]. Mice expressing human apoA-I had approximately 10-fold increase in TGF- mRNA levels compared to Apoa-I −/− mice. This increase was attributed to the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 and Akt. The increase in the TGF- signalling pathway activity was further supported by the increase in phosphorylation of Smad-2/3, an intracellular effector of TGF-. Further to the stimulation of TGF-, the enhanced abundance of EPCs following HDL treatment may be attributed to an increase in eNOS activation reducing EPC apoptosis through inhibition of caspase-3 [205]. However, the question arises, if HDL reduces adhesion molecule expression on both circulating leukocytes (presumably EPCs are included in this) and endothelial cells, then how are the EPCs recruited to the vessel wall?

In summary, these findings suggest that HDL is a potent anti-inflammatory agent, regulating cholesterol transport, NO, adhesion molecules, EPCs, and growth factors. The beneficial effects of HDL include promoting plaque stability to plaque regression, and extend to suppressing myeloid leukaemias, suggesting that raising HDL may therapeutically benefit multiple targets.

6. High Density Lipoproteins in Disease

Whilst HDL is regarded as an anti-inflammatory molecule, protecting against CVD, it can undergo modification altering its beneficial effects. There are a number of environmental factors which can contribute to the modification of HDL resulting in a defective/impaired molecule [206]. Such disease states include acute and chronic inflammation, CVD, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes. Discussed below are some of the ways HDL can be modified and the functional implications of these modifications.

6.1. Oxidation/Chlorination

While disruption of the cholesterol efflux pathway leads to increased inflammatory responses [115, 118], inflammatory settings can also lead to impairment of the RCT pathway [207]. Using an in vivo model of RCT, it was shown that cholesterol efflux was significantly inhibited during inflammation. LPS induced inflammation resulted in increased plasma cholesterol levels largely attributed to increased LDL with no change in HDL [207]. In this setting, there was a moderate decrease in hepatic genes involved in cellular cholesterol movement including Abca1 and Scarb1. However, the largest change appeared to be the remodelling of HDL, partitioning serum amyloid A into the particle while appearing to remove apoA-I [207].

It is now becoming apparent that the HDL particle itself can undergo a number of modifications in disease/inflammatory settings that impair its ability to facilitate RCT and carry out its known anti-inflammatory functions. The major culprit in modifying HDL appears to involve activated phagocytes secreting myeloperoxidase (MPO), which through chemical interactions modifies apoA-I. The most damaging modification is the addition of a chlorine to the tyrosine residue (Y192) [208]. Importantly, oxidized HDL has been found in the arterial walls of humans and HDL isolated from the atherosclerotic lesions of humans with established coronary artery disease had increased levels of chlorotyrosine compared to HDL isolated from the plasma of the same patients [209, 210]. Further, plasma levels of chlorotyrosine were also increased in CAD patients compared to healthy subjects [211, 212]. The functional effects of apoA-I chlorination by the MPO system are clearly visible as a reduction in ABCA1 specific cholesterol efflux from macrophages [213–215]. This occurs by impairing the initial stages of apoA-I interacting with ABCA1 as chlorinated apoA-I fails to activate JAK-2, a key signalling pathway involved with enhanced binding apoA-I to ABCA1 [102, 216]. As JAK-2 activation and cholesterol removal are required for the anti-inflammatory effects of apoA-I on macrophages, these findings would suggest that chlorinated apoA-I would have diminished anti-inflammatory effects [217]. Recently, modification of apoA-I has also been shown to occur by reactive carbonyls, namely, malondialdehyde (MDA) [218]. This modification also appears to occur in vivo as HDL isolated from human atherosclerotic lesions showed a distinct increase in MDA-modified HDL compared to the levels detected in HDL isolated from the plasma of healthy individuals. MDA-modified HDL had impaired cholesterol efflux capabilities providing another avenue for the generation of dysfunctional HDL in CVD.

6.2. Nonenzymatic Glycation

HDL does not only undergo oxidative modifications, but can also undergo nonenzymatic glycation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [219]. Glycated HDL and apoA-I had significantly impaired cholesterol efflux from macrophages. In the case of glycated-apoA-I, this appears to be related to decreased stabilization of ABCA1 on the cell membrane possibly due to a decreased interaction between apoA-I and ABCA1 [219]. Additionally, the presence of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) can significantly attenuate ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression [220, 221]. Glycation of apoA-I also impairs its ability to interact with LCAT, which is crucial in the formation of mature HDL particles [222]. Taken together, the net result is a dramatic inhibition of the RCT system in diabetes.

Not only is the RCT system inhibited in diabetes but also so are the anti-inflammatory properties. Glycation of apoA-I results in a significant impairment of the ability of this lipoprotein to attenuate human monocyte activation as assessed by CD11b levels [219]. Using a model of in vivo inflammation in rabbits, it was discovered that glycated apoA-I or rHDL could no longer inhibit neutrophil recruitment [223]. This was attributed to the inability of the cholesterol acceptors to inhibit the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 or reduce ROS at the site of inflammation. As apoA-I has recently been shown to potently attenuate neutrophil activation and recruitment to inflamed vasculature [163], it is likely that glycated apoA-I can no longer decrease neutrophil activation leading to the increased infiltration observed in this study. Clearly, the results suggest that the anti-inflammatory functions of HDL and apoA-I can be severely impaired in the setting of diabetes when modification by AGEs occurs.

7. Perspective

While there is a growing body of literature describing the cardioprotective effects of HDL, we still have much to learn about this complex particle. HDL has generally been thought of as the “great hope” in treating CVD. Given the wide-ranging effects of HDL and the difficulty in observing clear improvement in cardiovascular outcomes in clinical evaluations of HDL raising therapies, it remains to be seen in which disease setting increasing HDL levels will be most efficient in reducing outcomes. However, it is important to note that clinical trials assessing HDL raising therapies to date have not disproven the HDL hypothesis, and by no means should HDL raising therapies be abandoned. As CVD is associated with an imbalance in plasma lipids, and HDL can promote reverse cholesterol transport, HDL has long been branded as a therapy for this disease. However, we are learning more about the functions of HDL and beginning to understand that regulating cholesterol levels can control the innate immune system. Evolutionary, this may be the primary role for HDL. There is certainly a strong rationale for HDL administration as an anti-inflammatory agent in diseases other than atherosclerosis. Moreover, the recent discoveries that HDL can inhibit hematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation and mobilization in models of leukaemia, which has opened up an exciting new avenue for potential diseases that may benefit from HDL. Perhaps now we need to extend our view on what type of patients we should be targeting with HDL therapy. It may turn out that people with particular types of CVD, diabetes, obesity, and so forth, are the ideal candidates for HDL raising therapies. However, it is entirely possible that HDL raising may be most effective in treating people with chronic inflammatory conditions where resolution of inflammation fails or diseases that are dependent on maintaining cellular cholesterol in order for cells to proliferate such as leukaemia. None the less, there is still much to be learnt about how to effectively raise HDL, what diseases to treat, and how this will impact on outcomes.

Acknowledgments

Andrew J. Murphy was supported by a grant from the Viertel Foundation, managed by ANZ Trustees and administered by the Diabetes Australia Research Trust. Dr. Amanda Sampson is thanked for her critical reading of the paper.

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