Journal of Lipid Research Volume 58, 2017325 interaction between SR-BI and S1PR1 and activates S1PR1-mediated biological functions: calcium flux and S1PR1 internalization. J. Lipid Res. 2017. 58: 325-338.Supplementary key words high density lipoprotein • sphingosine 1-phosphate • protein-fragment complementation assay • scavenger receptor BI • S1P receptorsThe reverse transport of cholesterol from the periphery to the liver is often considered as the hallmark antiatherogenic function of HDL. SR-BI, the first molecularly characterized HDL receptor that plays a critical role in this metabolism, is abundantly expressed in several types of cells and tissue types, including the liver parenchyma, adrenal cortical cells, platelets, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and macrophages. SR-BI facilitates the selective uptake of HDL cholesterol by cells, primarily in the form of cholesteryl esters. SR-BI also mediates the bidirectional flux of unesterified cholesterol and phospholipids between HDL and cells, which leads to an increase in cellular cholesterol mass and alters cholesterol distribution in plasma membrane domains (1-4).Numerous studies have detailed the various signaling pathways generated by the interaction of HDL with cell surface receptors that have been shown to induce myriad Abstract HDL normally transports about 50-70% of plasma sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), and the S1P in HDL reportedly mediates several HDL-associated biological effects and signaling pathways. The HDL receptor, SR-BI, as well as the cell surface receptors for S1P (S1PRs) may be involved partially and/or completely in these HDL-induced processes. Here we investigate the nature of the HDLstimulated interaction between the HDL receptor, SR-BI, and S1PR1 using a protein-fragment complementation assay and confocal microscopy. In both primary rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells and HEK293 cells, the S1P content in HDL particles increased intracellular calcium concentration, which was mediated by S1PR1. Mechanistic studies performed in HEK293 cells showed that incubation of cells with HDL led to an increase in the physical interaction between the SR-BI and S1PR1 receptors that mainly occurred on the plasma membrane. Model recombinant HDL (rHDL) particles formed in vitro with S1P incorporated into the particle initiated the internalization of S1PR1, whereas rHDL without supplemented S1P did not, suggesting that S1P transported in HDL can selectively activate S1PR1. In conclusion, these data suggest that S1P in HDL stimulates the transient interaction between SR-BI and S1PRs that can activate S1PRs and induce an elevation in intracellular calcium concentration.-Lee,