Decoding functional high-density lipoprotein particle surfaceome interactions

Abstract

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is a mixture of complex particles mediating reverse cholesterol transport in the human body and several cytoprotective activities. Despite its relevance for human health, many aspects of HDL-mediated lipid trafficking and cellular signaling remain elusive at the molecular level. During HDLs journey throughout the body, its function is mediated through interactions with cell surface receptors on different cell types. Using four different cellular model systems HDL is interacting with, we comparatively analyzed their surfaceomes to define the HDL receptome. Surfaceome analysis of EA.hy926, HEPG2, foam cells, and human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) revealed the main currently known HDL-receptor scavenger receptor B1 (SCRB1), as well as 154 shared cell surface receptors representing potential HDL interaction receptor candidates. Since vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) was recently found as a regulatory factor of transendothelial transport of HDL, we next analyzed the VEGF modulated surfaceome of HAEC using auto-CSC technology. VEGF-A treatment led to a remodeling of the surfaceome of HAEC cells including the previously reported higher surfaceome abundance of SCRB1 upon treatment. 165 additional receptors were found on HAEC upon VEGF-A treatment representing SCRB1 co-regulated receptors potentially involved in HDL function. Using HATRIC-based ligand receptor capturing (HATRIC-LRC) technology on human endothelial cells, we specifically aimed for the identification of other bona fide (co-)receptors of HDL beyond SCRB1. HATRIC-LRC enabled, next to SCRB1, the identification of the receptor tyrosine-protein kinase Mer (MERTK), which we show is directly contributing to endothelial HDL binding and uptake. Subsequent proximity ligation assays (PLA) demonstrate furthermore the spatial vicinity of MERTK and SCRB1 on the endothelial cell surface. The data shown provide direct evidence for a complex and dynamic HDL receptome and that receptor nanoscale organization may influence functional HDL binding and uptake. List of human gene and protein names discussed in the paperABCA1: Phospholipid-transporting ATPase ABCA1 (ABCA1) ABCA7: Phospholipid-transporting ATPase ABCA7 (ABCA7) ABCG1: ATB-binding cassette G1 (ABCG1) ACVR2A: Activin receptor type-2A (AVR2A) APOA1: Apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1) APOB: Apolipoprotein B (APOB) APOC3: Apolipoprotein C-III (APOC3) APOH: Beta-2-glycoprotein 1 (APOH) APOM: Apolipoprotein M (APOM) ATP5MF: Ecto-F1-ATPase (ATPK) CD4: T-cell surface glycoprotein CD4 (CD4) CD14: Monocyte differentiation antigen CD14 (CD14) CD36: platelet glycoprotein 4 (CD36) EGFR: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ITGAM: Integrin alpha-M (ITAM) ITGAV: Integrin alpha-V (ITAV) KDR: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VGFR2) KIT: Mast/stem cell growth factor receptor Kit (KIT) MEGF8: Multiple epidermal growth factor-like domains protein 8 (MEGF8) MEGF10: Multiple epidermal growth factor-like domains protein 10 (MEGF10) MERTK: tyrosine-protein kinase Mer (MERTK) MRC2: C-type mannose receptor 2 (MRC2) MSR1: Macrophage scavenger receptor types I and II (MSRE) PCDHAC1: Protocadherin alpha-C1 (PCDC1) PLTP: Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) S1PR1: sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) S1PR2: sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2) S1PR3: sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 3 (S1PR3) SCARA3: Scavenger receptor class A member 3 (SCAR3) SCARB1: Scavenger receptor B1 (SCRB1) SLC8A3: Sodium/calcium exchanger 2 (NAC2) TF: Transferrin (TRFE) TFRC: Transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFR1) VEGFA: vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) Significance statementA molecular understanding of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) receptome would provide the rational basis for modulating reverse cholesterol transport. Here we used cellular model systems mimicking tissues involved in HDL-trafficking and reverse cholesterol transport to define the HDL receptome. The receptor tyrosine-protein kinase Mer (MERTK) was identified as a novel mediator of HDL binding and uptake in human aortic endothelial cells. Endothelial MERTK resides within the surfaceome proximal to SCRB1 representing a potential co-receptor. The molecular nanoscale organization of the cell-specific surfaceome may influence cellular HDL interactions and functionality.