Lipoprotein lipase (LpL) hydrolyzes chylomicron and very low density lipoprotein triglycerides to provide fatty acids to tissues. Aside from its lipolytic activity, LpL promotes lipoprotein uptake by increasing the association of these particles with cell surfaces allowing for the internalization by receptors and proteoglycans. Recent studies also indicate that LpL stimulates selective uptake of lipids from high density lipoprotein (HDL) and very low density lipoprotein. To study whether LpL

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... mediate selective uptake of lipids from low density lipoprotein (LDL), LpL was incubated with LDL receptor negative fibroblasts, and the uptake of LDL protein, labeled with 125 I, and cholesteryl esters traced with [ 3 H]cholesteryl oleoyl ether, was compared. LpL mediated greater uptake of [ 3 H]cholesteryl oleoyl ether than 125 I-LDL protein, a result that indicated selective lipid uptake. Lipid enrichment of cells was confirmed by measuring cellular cholesterol mass. LpL-mediated LDL selective uptake was not affected by the LpL inhibitor tetrahydrolipstatin but was nearly abolished by heparin, monoclonal anti-LpL antibodies, or chlorate treatment of cells and was not found using proteoglycan-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cells. Selective uptake from HDL, but not LDL, was 2-3-fold greater in scavenger receptor class B type I overexpressing cells (SR-BI cells) than compared control cells. LpL, however, induced similar increases in selective uptake from LDL and HDL in either control or SR-BI cells, indicative of the SR-BI-independent pathway. This was further supported by ability of LpL to promote selective uptake from LDL in human embryonal kidney 293 cells, cells that do not express SR-BI. In Chinese hamster ovary cell lines that overexpress LpL, we also found that selective uptake from LDL was induced by both endogenous and exogenous LpL. Transgenic mice that overexpress human LpL via a muscle creatine kinase promoter had more LDL selective uptake in muscle than did wild type mice. In summary LpL stimulates selective uptake of cholesteryl esters from LDL via pathways that are distinct from SR-BI. Moreover this process also occurs in vivo in tissues where abundant LpL is present. 1 The abbreviations used are: LpL, lipoprotein lipase; HSPG, heparan sulfate proteoglycans; HDL, high density lipoprotein; LDL, low density