Chylomicron remnant uptake by enterocytes is receptor dependent.

During glyceryl trioleate absorption in the rat, mucosal triacylglycerol (TG) fatty acids have been shown to consist of only 71% exogenous oleate. Chylomicron remnants are enriched with endogenous TG fatty acids, compared with their parent chylomicrons, which consist primarily of exogenous TG fatty acids. Because enterocytes have the apolipoprotein B-100/E receptor, this study was directed at determining whether the cells can take up and metabolize chylomicron remnants and, if so, whether this was receptor mediated. Isolated enterocytes were incubated with purified 3H-labeled chylomicron remnants. The remnants were shown to be taken up by the basolateral membrane, not the apical membrane. Remnant uptake was proportional to time and number of enterocytes, and saturation kinetics were observed. Nonradiolabeled remnants, human low-density lipoprotein (LDL), anti-LDL receptor antibody, and receptor-associated protein, an LDL-related receptor inhibitor, were all shown to compete for or reduce 3H-remnant uptake. Remnants taken up by the enterocytes could not be removed on incubation with excess human LDL. Uptake was shown to be greatest in the villus tips of the proximal intestine. These studies suggest that enterocytes take up chylomicron remnants by a receptor-mediated process from their basolateral membranes and that the remnants could provide a source of endogenous TG fatty acids for the enterocytes.