A New Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor Related Protein, LRP5, Is Expressed in Hepatocytes and Adrenal Cortex, and Recognizes Apolipoprotein E

Abstract

The isolation and characterization of rabbit and human cDNAs revealed a new low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-related protein (LRP) designated as LRP5. Human LRP5 cDNA encodes a 1, 616-amino acid type I membrane-like protein with three ligand binding repeats in its extracellular region. LDLR-deficient cells transduced by recombinant adenovirus containing human LRP5 exhibited increased binding of apolipoprotein E (apoE)-enriched beta-migrating very low density lipoprotein. Northern blotting and in situ hybridization revealed a high level of LRP5 expression in hepatocytes and the adrenal gland cortex. In LDLR-deficient Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits, LRP5 mRNA was increased in the liver and accumulated in cholesterol-laden foam cells of atherosclerotic lesions.