Activated Alpha-2 Macroglobulin Improves Insulin Response via LRP1 in Lipid-Loaded HL-1 Cardiomyocytes

Activated alpha-2 Macroglobulin (α(2)M*) is specifically recognized by the cluster I/II of LRP1 (Low-density lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein-1). LRP1 is a scaffold protein for insulin receptor involved in the insulin-induced glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) translocation to plasma membrane and glucose uptake in different types of cells. Moreover, the cluster II of LRP1 plays a critical role in the internalization of atherogenic lipoproteins, such as aggregated Low-density Lipoproteins (aggLDL), promoting intracellular cholesteryl ester (CE) accumulation mainly in arterial intima and myocardium. The aggLDL uptake by LRP1 impairs GLUT4 traffic and the insulin response in cardiomyocytes. However, the link between CE accumulation, insulin action, and cardiac dysfunction are largely unknown. Here, we found that α(2)M* increased GLUT4 expression on cell surface by Rab4, Rab8A, and Rab10-mediated recycling through PI(3)K/Akt and MAPK/ERK signaling activation. Moreover, α(2)M* enhanced the insulin response increasing insulin-induced glucose uptake rate in the myocardium under normal conditions. On the other hand, α(2)M* blocked the intracellular CE accumulation, improved the insulin response and reduced cardiac damage in HL-1 cardiomyocytes exposed to aggLDL. In conclusion, α(2)M* by its agonist action on LRP1, counteracts the deleterious effects of aggLDL in cardiomyocytes, which may have therapeutic implications in cardiovascular diseases associated with hypercholesterolemia.