Caveolin-1 and caveolin-2 expression in mouse macrophages - High density lipoprotein 3-stimulated secretion and a lack of significant subcellular co-localization
P. Gargalovic et L. Dory, Caveolin-1 and caveolin-2 expression in mouse macrophages - High density lipoprotein 3-stimulated secretion and a lack of significant subcellular co-localization, J BIOL CHEM, 276(28), 2001, pp. 26164-26170
Evidence for caveolin expression in macrophages is scarce and conflicting.
We therefore examined caveolin-1 and caveolin-2 expression in resident and
thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages (tg-MPM) and in the J7
74 mouse macrophage cell line by RT-PCR, ribonuclease protection assay, imm
unoblotting, and immunofluorescence. We found that relative to 3T3 cells, r
esident MPM and tg-MPM express low amounts of caveolin-1 (45 and 15% of tho
se in 3T3 fibroblasts, respectively), while J774.A1 cells do not express an
y. Caveolin-2, on the other hand, is expressed in all cells examined, with
highest expression in tg-MPM and the lowest in J774 cells. The relative lev
els of caveolin expression in the various cells correspond well with their
respective mRNA levels, as measured by ribonuclease protection assay. Caveo
lin-1, present primarily on the cell surface, does not co-localize signific
antly with caveolin-2, which is present primarily in the Golgi compartment
in all macrophages studied. Loading of tg-MPM with cholesterol or variation
s in unesterified cholesterol content appear to have little effect on the l
evel of caveolin-1 or -2 expression or their distribution. Stimulation of c
holesterol efflux by HDL, leads to caveolin-1 and caveolin-2 secretion to t
he cell culture medium, a process not detected in the absence of HDL,, The
lack of significant co-localization of the two caveolin isoforms in primary
macrophages and their secretion in the presence of HDL, provides an intere
sting and physiologically relevant model system to study additional aspects
of caveolin function.