Nancy R. Webb

Group X Secretory Phospholipase A2 Negatively Regulates ABCA1 and ABCG1 Expression and Cholesterol Efflux in Macrophages

Objective—GX sPLA2 potently hydrolyzes plasma membranes to generate lysophospholipids and free fatty acids; it has been implicated in inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis. To identify a novel role for group X (GX) secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) in modulating ATP binding casette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and ATP binding casette transporter G1 (ABCG1) expression and, therefore, macrophage cholesterol efflux. Methods and Results—The overexpression or exogenous addition of GX sPLA2 significantly reduced ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression in J774 macrophage-like cells, whereas GX sPLA2 deficiency in mouse peritoneal macrophages was associated with enhanced expression. Altered ABC transporter expression led to reduced cholesterol efflux in GX sPLA2-overexpressing J774 cells and increased efflux in GX sPLA2-deficient mouse peritoneal macrophages. Gene regulation was dependent on GX sPLA2 catalytic activity, mimicked by arachidonic acid and abrogated when liver X receptor (LXR)&agr;/&bgr; expression was suppressed, and partially reversed by the LXR agonist T0901317. Reporter assays indicated that GX sPLA2 suppresses the ability of LXR to transactivate its promoters through a mechanism involving the C-terminal portion of LXR spanning the ligand-binding domain. Conclusion—GX sPLA2 modulates gene expression in macrophages by generating lipolytic products that suppress LXR activation. GX sPLA2 may play a previously unrecognized role in atherosclerotic lipid accumulation by negatively regulating the genes critical for cellular cholesterol efflux.

Diverse Functions of Secretory Phospholipases A2

Phospholipase A2 enzymes (PLA2s) catalyze the hydrolysis of glycerophospholipids at their sn-2 position releasing free fatty acids and lysophospholipids. Mammalian PLA2s are classified into several categories of which important groups include secreted PLA2s (sPLA2s) and cytosolic PLA2s (cPLA2s) that are calcium-dependent for their catalytic activity and calcium-independent cytosolic PLA2s (iPLA2s). Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolases (PAF-AHs), lysosomal PLA2s, and adipose-specific PLA2 also belong to the class of PLA2s. Generally, cPLA2 enzymes are believed to play a major role in the metabolism of arachidonic acid, the iPLA2 family to membrane homeostasis and energy metabolism, and the sPLA2 family to various biological processes. The focus of this review is on recent research developments in the sPLA2 field. sPLA2s are secreted enzymes with low molecular weight (with the exception of GIII sPLA2), Ca2+-requiring enzymes with a His-Asp catalytic dyad. Ten enzymatically active sPLA2s and one devoid of enzymatic activity have been identified in mammals. Some of these sPLA2s are potent in arachidonic acid release from cellular phospholipids for the biosynthesis of eicosanoids, especially during inflammation. Individual sPLA2 enzymes exhibit unique tissue and cellular localizations and specific enzymatic properties, suggesting their distinct biological roles. Recent studies indicate that sPLA2s are involved in diverse pathophysiological functions and for most part act nonredundantly.