Apolipoprotein M and Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor 1 Promote the Transendothelial Transport of High-Density Lipoprotein

Objective: ApoM enriches S1P (sphingosine-1-phosphate) within HDL (high-density lipoproteins) and facilitates the activation of the S1P(1) (S1P receptor type 1) by S1P, thereby preserving endothelial barrier function. Many protective functions exerted by HDL in extravascular tissues raise the question of how S1P regulates transendothelial HDL transport. Approach and Results: HDL were isolated from plasma of wild-type mice, Apom knockout mice, human apoM transgenic mice or humans and radioiodinated to trace its binding, association, and transport by bovine or human aortic endothelial cells. We also compared the transport of fluorescently-labeled HDL or Evans Blue, which labels albumin, from the tail vein into the peritoneal cavity of apoE-haploinsufficient mice with (apoE-haploinsufficient mice with endothelium-specific knockin of S1P(1)) or without (control mice, ie, apoE-haploinsufficient mice without endothelium-specific knockin of S1P(1)) endothelium-specific knockin of S1P(1). The binding, association, and transport of HDL from Apom knockout mice and human apoM-depleted HDL by bovine aortic endothelial cells was significantly lower than that of HDL from wild-type mice and human apoM-containing HDL, respectively. The binding, uptake, and transport of I-125-HDL by human aortic endothelial cells was increased by an S1P(1) agonist but decreased by an S1P(1) inhibitor. Silencing of SR-BI (scavenger receptor BI) abrogated the stimulation of I-125-HDL transport by the S1P(1) agonist. Compared with control mice, that is, apoE-haploinsufficient mice without endothelium-specific knockin of S1P(1), apoE-haploinsufficient mice with endothelium-specific knockin of S1P(1) showed decreased transport of Evans Blue but increased transport of HDL from blood into the peritoneal cavity and SR-BI expression in the aortal endothelium. Conclusions: ApoM and S1P(1) promote transendothelial HDL transport. Their opposite effect on transendothelial transport of albumin and HDL indicates that HDL passes endothelial barriers by specific mechanisms rather than passive filtration.

Automated summary

The study revealed that ApoM and S1P(1) play a role in promoting the endothelial barrier function and facilitating the transport of HDL. The findings suggest that HDL crosses the endothelial barrier through specific mechanisms rather than passive filtration.