Mi-Jurng Kim

Stimulation of Cholesterol Efflux by LXR Agonists in Cholesterol-Loaded Human Macrophages Is ABCA1-Dependent but ABCG1-Independent

Objective—Maintenance of cholesterol homeostasis in human macrophages is essential to prevent foam cell formation. We evaluated the relative contribution of the ABCA1 and ABCG1 transporters to cholesterol efflux from human macrophages, and of the capacity of LXR agonists to reduce foam cell formation by stimulating export of cellular cholesterol. Methods and Results—ABCG1 mRNA levels were strongly increased in acLDL-loaded THP-1 macrophages and in HMDM on stimulation with LXR agonists. However, silencing of ABCG1 expression using ABCG1-specific siRNA indicated that ABCG1 was not essential for cholesterol efflux to HDL in cholesterol-loaded human macrophages stimulated with LXR agonists. Indeed, ABCA1 was solely responsible for the stimulation of cholesterol efflux to HDL on LXR activation, as this effect was abolished in HMDM from Tangier patients. Furthermore, depletion of cellular ATP indicated that the LXR-induced export of cholesterol was an ATP-dependent transport mechanism in human macrophages. Finally, use of an anti–Cla-1 blocking antibody identified the Cla-1 receptor as a key component in cholesterol efflux to HDL from cholesterol-loaded human macrophages. Conclusion—Our data indicate that stimulation of cholesterol efflux to HDL by LXR agonists in human foam cells involves an ATP-dependent transport mechanism mediated by ABCA1 that it appears to be independent of ABCG1 expression.

HDL Particle Size Is a Critical Determinant of ABCA1-Mediated Macrophage Cellular Cholesterol Export

RATIONALE High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is a heterogeneous population of particles. Differences in the capacities of HDL subfractions to remove cellular cholesterol may explain variable correlations between HDL-cholesterol and cardiovascular risk and inform future targets for HDL-related therapies. The ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) facilitates cholesterol efflux to lipid-free apolipoprotein A-I, but the majority of apolipoprotein A-I in the circulation is transported in a lipidated state and ABCA1-dependent efflux to individual HDL subfractions has not been systematically studied. OBJECTIVE Our aims were to determine which HDL particle subfractions are most efficient in mediating cellular cholesterol efflux from foam cell macrophages and to identify the cellular cholesterol transporters involved in this process. METHODS AND RESULTS We used reconstituted HDL particles of defined size and composition, isolated subfractions of human plasma HDL, cell lines stably expressing ABCA1 or ABCG1, and both mouse and human macrophages in which ABCA1 or ABCG1 expression was deleted. We show that ABCA1 is the major mediator of macrophage cholesterol efflux to HDL, demonstrating most marked efficiency with small, dense HDL subfractions (HDL3b and HDL3c). ABCG1 has a lesser role in cholesterol efflux and a negligible role in efflux to HDL3b and HDL3c subfractions. CONCLUSIONS Small, dense HDL subfractions are the most efficient mediators of cholesterol efflux, and ABCA1 mediates cholesterol efflux to small dense HDL and to lipid-free apolipoprotein A-I. HDL-directed therapies should target increasing the concentrations or the cholesterol efflux capacity of small, dense HDL species in vivo.

Antibiotic resistance determinants in nosocomial strains of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

OBJECTIVES To investigate the presence of resistance genes in nosocomial multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from outbreak and sporadic settings. METHODS Thirty-two A. baumannii isolates were collected, 13 of which were involved in two outbreaks from different hospitals, which resulted in four deaths. The remaining 19 isolates were collected sporadically over 5 years from two other hospitals. The MICs of 25 antibiotics were determined for each isolate. PCR screening was carried out to identify possible genes that contributed to each resistance phenotype. Repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR (REP-PCR) was performed to assess isolate clonality in conjunction with genotype data. RESULTS Between eight and 12 resistance determinants were detected in the 32 MDR A. baumannii isolates examined. These resistance determinants included the genes blaOXA-23 and ampC, with the upstream element ISAba1 promoting increased gene expression and subsequent resistance to carbapenems and cephalosporins, respectively. In all isolates, resistance to quinolones and fluoroquinolones was conferred by an S83L mutation in GyrA. Twenty-eight of the 32 isolates were also positive for tet(B), a tetracycline resistance determinant, blaTEM-1, which contributed to beta-lactam resistance, and strB, which contributed to aminoglycoside resistance. Class 1 integrons that harboured aacC1, aadA1, qacEDelta1 and sul1 were identified in 10 of the 32 isolates (31%) together with the kanamycin resistance gene, aphA1. A putative trimethoprim resistance gene, folA, was also identified in all isolates. REP-PCR together with genotyping identified three main clonal types. CONCLUSIONS Isolates of A. baumannii from both outbreak and sporadic cases possess at least eight resistance gene determinants that give rise to the MDR phenotype.

Norovirus Excretion in an Aged-Care Setting

ABSTRACT Norovirus genogroup II excretion during an outbreak of gastroenteritis was investigated in an aged-care facility. Viral shedding peaked in the acute stage of illness and continued for an average of 28.7 days. The viral decay rate was 0.76 per day, which corresponds to a viral half-life of 2.5 days.

Cellular Cholesterol Regulates Ubiquitination and Degradation of the Cholesterol Export Proteins ABCA1 and ABCG1

Background: Cholesterol transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1 export excess cellular cholesterol and protect against atherosclerosis. Results: Cholesterol loading decreases cellular degradation of ABCA1 and ABCG1 and also their ubiquitination. Conclusion: Cholesterol-dependent suppression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 ubiquitination decreases their proteasomal degradation. Significance: This mechanism enhances the capacity of cholesterol-loaded cells to export their excess cholesterol. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of cholesterol in post-translational control of ABCA1 and ABCG1 protein expression. Using CHO cell lines stably expressing human ABCA1 or ABCG1, we observed that the abundance of these proteins is increased by cell cholesterol loading. The response to increased cholesterol is rapid, is independent of transcription, and appears to be specific for these membrane proteins. The effect is mediated through cholesterol-dependent inhibition of transporter protein degradation. Cell cholesterol loading similarly regulates degradation of endogenously expressed ABCA1 and ABCG1 in human THP-1 macrophages. Turnover of ABCA1 and ABCG1 is strongly inhibited by proteasomal inhibitors and is unresponsive to inhibitors of lysosomal proteolysis. Furthermore, cell cholesterol loading inhibits ubiquitination of ABCA1 and ABCG1. Our findings provide evidence for a rapid, cholesterol-dependent, post-translational control of ABCA1 and ABCG1 protein levels, mediated through a specific and sterol-sensitive mechanism for suppression of transporter protein ubiquitination, which in turn decreases proteasomal degradation. This provides a mechanism for acute fine-tuning of cholesterol transporter activity in response to fluctuations in cell cholesterol levels, in addition to the longer term cholesterol-dependent transcriptional regulation of these genes.

The aadB Gene Cassette Is Associated with blaSHV Genes in Klebsiella Species Producing Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases

ABSTRACT Integrons were detected in 37 (72.5%) of 51 Klebsiella spp. producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases by PCR with primers that targeted integrase genes and cassette regions. PCR and amplicon sequencing of the cassette regions revealed aadB and aadA2 gene cassettes that confer resistance to a range of aminoglycosides. aadB was associated with a class 1 integron on a 28-kb plasmid, pES1, that also contained blaSHV-12 and IS26.

Expression and stability of two isoforms of ABCG1 in human vascular cells

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the expression of two ABCG1 isoforms that differ in the presence or absence of a 12 amino acid (AA) peptide between the ABC cassette and the transmembrane region, termed ABCG1(+12) and ABCG1(-12), respectively, in human vascular cells and tissues. METHODS AND RESULTS mRNA for both isoforms was expressed in human macrophages, vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells as well as whole human spleen, lung, liver and brain tissue. However, ABCG1(+12) was not expressed in mouse tissues. 2D gel electrophoresis of ABCG1 protein indicated that both protein isoforms were expressed in human macrophages. Furthermore the half-lives of the two ABCG1 protein isoforms, stably expressed in CHOK1 cells, measured under basal conditions were different, suggesting the presence of a degradation or stabilising signal in or near the 12AA region of ABCG1(+12). CONCLUSION ABCG1(+12) is an isoform of ABCG1 exclusively expressed in human cells at the RNA and protein level. As ABCG1(+12) is not expressed in mice, although mouse models are widely used to elucidate the function of ABCG1, further investigations into the importance of this human ABCG1 isoform are warranted.

Human macrophage cathepsin B-mediated C-terminal cleavage of apolipoprotein A-I at Ser228 severely impairs antiatherogenic capacity

Apolipoprotein α‐I (apoA‐I) is themajor component of HDLandcentral to the ability of HDLto stimulate ATP‐binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1)‐dependent, antiatherogenic export of cholesterol from macrophage foam cells, a key player in the pathology of atherosclerosis. Cell‐mediated modifications of apoA‐I, such as chlorination, nitration, oxidation, and proteolysis, can impair its antiatherogenic function, although it is unknown whether macrophages themselves contribute to such modifications. To investigate this, human monocyte‐derived macrophages (HMDMs) were incubated with human apoA‐I under conditions used to induce cholesterol export. Two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis identified that apoA‐I is cleaved (~20–80%) by HMDMs in a time‐dependent manner, generating apoA‐I of lower MW and isoelectric point. Mass spectrometry analysis identified a novel C‐terminal cleavage site of apoA‐I between Ser228‐Phe229. Recombinant apoA‐I truncated at Ser228 demonstrated profound loss of capacity to solubilize lipid and to promoteABCA1‐dependent cholesterol efflux. Protease inhibitors, small interfering RNA knockdown in HMDMs, mass spectrometry analysis, and cathepsin B activity assays identified secreted cathepsin B as responsible for apoA‐I cleavage at Ser228. Importantly, C‐terminal cleavage of apoA‐I was also detected in human carotid plaque. Cleavage at Ser228 is a novel, functionally important post‐translationalmodification of apoA‐Imediated byHMDMsthat limits the antiatherogenic properties of apoA‐I.—Dinnes, D. L.M., White, M. Y., Kockx, M., Traini, M., Hsieh, V., Kim, M.‐J., Hou, L., Jessup, W., Rye, K.‐A., Thaysen‐Andersen, M., Cordwell, S. J., Kritharides, L. Human macrophage cathepsin B‐mediated C‐terminal cleavage of apolipoprotein A‐I at Ser228 severely impairs antiatherogenic capacity. FASEB J. 30, 4239–4255 (2016). www.fasebj.org

Protein turnover regulated by cholesterol.

DOI:10.1097/MOL.0b013e32834f42b3 Cholesterol is essential for mammalian cell function but is toxic in excess. Disruption in cholesterol homeostasis can lead to pathologies such as atherosclerosis, cancer and diabetes. Control of cell cholesterol levels normally involves a finely regulated balance among its synthesis, uptake and export. Expression of the proteins involved in these processes is closely regulated to maintain tight control of cholesterol homeostasis. It is well established that transcriptional regulation involves sterol-sensitive transcription factors such as sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein2 (SREBP-2) and liver X receptor (LXR). In general, SREBP-2 is active in cholesterol-depleted cells and upregulates genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and uptake, whereas LXR is activated in cholesterol-loaded cells and upregulates genes involved in cholesterol export, although there is also significant cross-talk between these pathways (e.g. [1]). Post-translational control of protein expression is now increasingly recognized as a significant additional level of control. Proteins are targeted for proteasomal degradation by covalent addition of ubiquitin, mediated by a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2) and a ubiquitin ligase (E3). An increasing number of proteins are being recognized as targets of sterol-sensitive ubiquitination. Interestingly, there appear to be multiple mechanisms for triggering cholesterol-dependent protein ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. The best-characterized of these is control of HMG-CoA reductase (HMR) degradation [2]. In sterol-replete conditions, HMR in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) binds Insig, which in turn triggers the recruitment of a complex containing the E3 ligase gp78 and its cognate ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme Ubc7, leading to ubiquitination of HMR and its accelerated degradation. HMR ubiquitination depends on 24,25-dihydrolanosterol (an intermediate in the cholesterol synthesis pathway)-mediated binding of Insig to its sterol-sensing domain (SSD). Ubiquitination and degradation of ApoB-100 are also mediated by gp78 [3] and a recent study suggests a regulatory role for this process in VLDL assembly in liver [4 & ]. SPFH2 and TMUB1 have now been identified as gp78-associated proteins involved