In LDL receptor-deficient mice, catabolism of remnant lipoproteins requires a high level of apoE but is inhibited by excess apoE

To investigate the quantitative requirement for apolipoprotein (apo) E in the clearance of lipoproteins via the non-low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor mediated pathway, human APOE was overexpressed at various levels in the livers of mice deficient for both the endogenous Apoe and Ldlr genes (Apoe -/-. Ldlr -/-) using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer. We found that a low level of APOE expression, that was capable of reducing the hyperlipidemia in Apoe -/- mice, did not result in a reduction of the hyperlipidemia in Apoe -/-. Ldlr -/- mice. Surpisingly, a very high level of APOE expression also did not result in a reduction of hypercholesterolemia in Apoe -/-. Ldlr -/- mice, despite very high levels of circulating apoE (>160 mg/dl). Only a moderately high level of APOE expression resulted in a reduction of serum cholesterol level (from 35.2 +/- 6.7 to 14.6 +/- 2.3 mmol/l) and the disappearance of VLDL from the serum. Moreover, the very high level of APOE expression resulted in a severe hypertriglyceridemia in Apoe -/-. Ldlr -/- mice and not Apoe -/- mice (25.7 +/- 8.9 and 2.2 +/- 1.8 mmol/l, respectively). This hypertriglyceridemia was associated with an APOE-induced increase in the VLDL triglyceride production rate and an inhibition of VLDL-triglyceride lipolysis. We conclude from these data that, for efficient clearance, the non-LDL receptor-mediated pathway requires a higher level of APOE expression as compared to the LDL receptor, but is more sensitive to an APOE-induced increase in VLDL production and inhibition of VLDL-triglyceride lipolysis.-van Dijk, K. W., B. J. M. Van Vlijmen, H. B. van't Hof, A. van der Zee, S. Santamarina-Fojo, T. J. C. van Berkel, L. M. Havekes, and M. H. Hofker. In LDL receptor-deficient mice, catabolism of remnant lipoproteins requires a high level of apoE but is inhibited by excess APOE.