Elevated plasma levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) can be a risk factor for atherosclerosis, and the interaction of Lp(a) with cholesterol-loaded macrophages (foam cells) in atheromata may be important in Lp(a)-induced atherogenesis. We have previously shown that when cultured macrophages are loaded with cholesterol, they acquire the ability to internalize and lysosomally degrade Lp(a) via interaction between a novel cell-surface receptor activity and the apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)) moiety of Lp(a). Herein we explore the cell-surface binding of recombinant apo(a) (r-apo(a)) by foam cells. Whereas the induction of degradation of r-apo(a) by cholesterol loading of macrophages depended on new protein synthesis, the induction of binding of r-apo(a) did not. Furthermore, J774 macrophages bound r-apo(a) in a cholesterol-regulatable and specific manner but degraded r-apo(a) poorly. Thus, the binding and internalization/ degradation functions of the receptor activity are distinct. To explore which domains on r-apo(a) interact with the foam cell receptor, we conducted a series of competitive and direct binding and degradation experiments using 12 r-apo(a) constructs that differed in their content of specific kringle subtypes. These data, as well as complementary data with anti-apo(a) monoclonal antibodies, indicated that the region centered around kringle type IV, subtypes 6-7 (KIV 6 -7 ) is important in receptor binding. Remarkably, a cholesterol-induced receptor activity with similar structural specificity was also found on Chinese hamster ovary cells. In conclusion, the foam cell Lp(a)/apo(a) receptor consists of a cholesterol-regulatable binding activity and a shortlived component necessary for internalization or lysosomal degradation; the binding activity interacts with a distinct region of apo(a) that is different from that involved in competition for plasminogen binding.
Lp(a)1 is an LDL-like lipoprotein in which the apoB-100 moiety of LDL is covalently attached to a glycoprotein called apo(a) (1, 2). Apo(a) consists of multiple domains called kringles, which are regions of protein folds each stabilized by three disulfide bonds (3). Apo(a) shares 80% homology with another kringle-containing protein, plasminogen (3). Although the physiological role of Lp(a) is not known, elevated levels of this lipoprotein in certain human populations are often associated with increased risk for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and stroke (4). Furthermore, Lp(a) transgenic mice (5, 6) and, in one report ( (7); cf. Ref. 8), apo(a) transgenic mice have been found to have accelerated atherosclerosis.The mechanism of Lp(a)-induced atherosclerosis is not known. Several groups of investigators have postulated that the ability of Lp(a) to compete for plasminogen binding sites on cells is important in certain potentially atherogenic processes, such as decreased fibronolysis (9 -11) and increased smooth muscle cell proliferation (12). Another possible clue to the potential atherogenicity of Lp(a) comes from the observation that Lp(a) an...