Uptake of triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins of differing triacylglycerol molecular species and unsaponifiable content by liver cells.

The fatty acid composition of dietary oils can modulate the incorporation of triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins (TRL) into hepatocytes, thus affecting the atherogenicity of these particles. However, nothing is known about the effect of the unsaponifiable fraction of the oils. In the present study, we evaluated the influence of these components on the uptake of TRL by rat primary hepatocytes. TRL were isolated from human serum after the intake of meals enriched in high-oleic sunflower oil (HOSO), virgin olive oil (VOO) or VOO enriched in its own unsaponifiable fraction (EVO). HOSO and HOSO-TRL differed from VOO and EVO and their corresponding TRL in the composition of triacylglycerol molecular species and of the unsaponifiable fraction. Furthermore, the increase in the unsaponifiable fraction of VOO led to changes in the triacylglycerol molecular species in the EVO-TRL. On incubation with hepatocytes, HOSO-TRL were taken up at a faster rate than VOO-TRL or EVO-TRL. In addition, in comparison to VOO-TRL, HOSO-TRL increased the expression of mRNA for the LDL receptor-related protein receptor, which plays an important role in the internalisation of remnant lipoproteins. EVO-TRL also increased LDL receptor-related protein mRNA expression in comparison with VOO-TRL, but this change was not accompanied by a rise in the uptake rate, suggesting that the unsaponifiable fraction of VOO may inhibit LDL receptor-related protein expression or activity post-transcriptionally. In conclusion, TRL from dietary oils with differing triacylglycerol molecular species and unsaponifiable fraction content are taken up by liver cells at different rates, and this may be important in the atherogenicity of these particles.