CD36 is an 88-kD integral membrane protein expressed on platelets, monocytes, macrophages, certain microvascular endothelia, and retinal pigment epithelium. It functions as an adhesive receptor for thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), collagen, and malaria-infected erythrocytes and as a scavenger receptor for oxidized LDL and photoreceptor outer segments. The CD36-TSP-1 interaction plays a role in cell adhesion and the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by macrophages. Because of the potential importance of the CD36-TSP-1 interaction in mediating atherogenic and inflammatory processes, we studied their expression in human peripheral blood monocytes exposed to soluble mediators known to regulate inflammation and atherogenesis. RNase protection assays showed 6- to 12-fold increases in CD36 mRNA in response to interleukin-4, monocyte colony-stimulating factor, and phorbol myristate acetate, while lipopolysaccharide and dexamethasone strongly downregulated CD36 mRNA. The downregulation of CD36 mRNA was associated with the disappearance of surface expression of CD36 antigen and loss of TSP-1 surface-binding capacity. Upregulation of CD36 mRNA was associated with a modest increase in surface antigen expression and a larger expansion of an intracellular pool of CD36. As with CD36, monocytes treated with monocyte colony-stimulating factor showed a rapid increase in TSP-1 mRNA expression. Moreover, while dexamethasone treatment decreased CD36 expression, it resulted in a rapid increase in TSP-1 mRNA, and while PMA increased CD36 mRNA, it rapidly decreased TSP-1 expression. Interferon gamma, which had no effect on CD36 mRNA, rapidly increased steady-state TSP-1 mRNA. Thus, expression of both CD36 and its ligand TSP-1 is regulated by soluble mediators, although certain mediators induce concordant changes and others discordant changes.

CD36 is a multifunctional cell-surface receptor that binds adhesion molecules such as thrombospondin-1 and collagen and modified lipids and/or lipoproteins. It participates in cellular uptake of photoreceptor outer segments and scavenging of apoptotic cells and oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL). Recognition and internalization of Ox-LDL by mononuclear phagocytes may play an important role in the development of atherosclerotic lesions. We have utilized a series of recombinant bacterial glutathione S-transferase/CD36 fusion proteins that span nearly all of the CD36 molecule to characterize the structural domain on CD36 that recognizes Ox-LDL. We found that the Ox-LDL-binding domain is different from the thrombospondin-1-binding domain located at amino acids 93-120. A fusion protein containing the region extending from amino acids 5 to 143 formed specific, saturable, and reversible complexes with Ox-LDL. As with intact CD36, binding was blocked by excess unlabeled Ox-LDL and antibodies to CD36. The stoichiometry and affinity of the fusion protein for Ox-LDL were similar to those of the intact protein. We also demonstrated that this fusion protein competitively inhibited binding of Ox-LDL to purified platelet CD36 and to CD36 expressed on peripheral blood monocytes and CD36 cDNA-transfected melanoma cells. The use of smaller peptides and fusion proteins including those spanning amino acids 28 -93 and 5-93 has further narrowed the binding site to a region from amino acids 28 to 93, although participation of a sequence in the noncontiguous region 120 -155 cannot be excluded. This study, for the first time, demonstrates unique regions of the scavenger receptor CD36 that bind the Ox-LDL ligand. Our structural analysis of the receptor provides information as to potential control of the trafficking of modified lipoproteins into the blood vessel wall.Atherosclerosis is characterized by the formation of intimal plaque with cholesterol deposition, fibrosis, and cellular infiltration in the vessel wall (1). The lesions develop initially with migration of monocyte-derived macrophages, platelets, T-lymphocytes, and lipoproteins (1-4) across the vessel wall. Considerable experimental evidence suggests a model whereby oxidation of low density lipoproteins plays a critical early role in atherosclerosis (4, 5). Oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) 1 is present in human atheroma and can be a proximal source of lipid that accumulates within the cells of the atherosclerotic lesion (6 -8). In addition, Ox-LDL may be a pathogenic agonist for vascular cells, including monocytes, platelets, and endothelial cells (9 -18), and thus contribute to lesion propagation. LDL particles are presumably subjected to oxidative modification in the vessel wall by reactive oxygen metabolites produced in response to vascular injury in the developing lesion by monocytes, neutrophils, and other cells (19).Several cellular receptors that bind and internalize modified LDL particles, including Ox-LDL, have been identified and termed "scavenger rec...

CD36 is an 88-kD integral membrane glycoprotein expressed on monocytes, platelets, and certain microvascular endothelium serving distinct cellular functions both as an adhesive receptor for thrombospondin, collagen, and Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes, and as a scavenger receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein and apoptotic neutrophils. In this study, we examined the expression of CD36 during in vitro differentiation of peripheral blood monocytes into culture- derived macrophages. Steady-state mRNA levels of CD36 showed a transient eightfold increase during monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation, peaking at the early macrophage stage (days 3 or 4 in culture), following a gradual decrease back to baseline levels by the mature macrophage stage (days 7 or 8 in culture). Immunoblotting with monoclonal antibodies to CD36 supported this transient, yet significant (8- to 10-fold) increase in total protein levels of CD36. The increased CD36 protein was observed at the plasma membrane, whereas an intracellular pool of CD36 was also detected from day 2 to day 6 in culture through indirect immunofluorescence. A concomitant twofold increase in the cells' ability to bind 125I-thrombospondin at the early macrophage stage (day 4) verified the functional competency of the plasma membrane localized CD36, and supported the presence of an intracellular pool of CD36. The in vitro differentiated macrophages as well as alveolar macrophages remained responsive to macrophage colony- stimulating factor (M-CSF), a known transcriptional regulator of monocyte CD36. The M-CSF-induced macrophages resulted in enhanced foam cell formation, which was inhibitable with monoclonal antibodies to CD36. Thus, the transient expression of CD36 during monocyte-to- macrophage differentiation, and the ability of M-CSF to maintain macrophage CD36 at elevated levels, may serve as a critical process in dictating the functional activity of CD36 during inflammatory responses and atherogenesis.

No abstract

CD36 is an 88-kD integral membrane glycoprotein expressed on monocytes, platelets, and certain microvascular endothelium serving distinct cellular functions both as an adhesive receptor for thrombospondin, collagen, and Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes, and as a scavenger receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein and apoptotic neutrophils. In this study, we examined the expression of CD36 during in vitro differentiation of peripheral blood monocytes into culture- derived macrophages. Steady-state mRNA levels of CD36 showed a transient eightfold increase during monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation, peaking at the early macrophage stage (days 3 or 4 in culture), following a gradual decrease back to baseline levels by the mature macrophage stage (days 7 or 8 in culture). Immunoblotting with monoclonal antibodies to CD36 supported this transient, yet significant (8- to 10-fold) increase in total protein levels of CD36. The increased CD36 protein was observed at the plasma membrane, whereas an intracellular pool of CD36 was also detected from day 2 to day 6 in culture through indirect immunofluorescence. A concomitant twofold increase in the cells' ability to bind 125I-thrombospondin at the early macrophage stage (day 4) verified the functional competency of the plasma membrane localized CD36, and supported the presence of an intracellular pool of CD36. The in vitro differentiated macrophages as well as alveolar macrophages remained responsive to macrophage colony- stimulating factor (M-CSF), a known transcriptional regulator of monocyte CD36. The M-CSF-induced macrophages resulted in enhanced foam cell formation, which was inhibitable with monoclonal antibodies to CD36. Thus, the transient expression of CD36 during monocyte-to- macrophage differentiation, and the ability of M-CSF to maintain macrophage CD36 at elevated levels, may serve as a critical process in dictating the functional activity of CD36 during inflammatory responses and atherogenesis.