Cited by 127Cholesterol and Lipid MetabolismLipoproteins and Cardiovascular HealthLipid metabolism and disorders

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 40 of the 41 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 43 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

The COMMD Family Regulates Plasma LDL Levels and Attenuates Atherosclerosis Through Stabilizing the CCC Complex in Endosomal LDLR Trafficking

Open access

Abstract

Rationale: COMMD (copper metabolism MURR1 domain)-containing proteins are a part of the CCC (COMMD–CCDC22 [coiled-coil domain containing 22]–CCDC93 [coiled-coil domain containing 93]) complex facilitating endosomal trafficking of cell surface receptors. Hepatic COMMD1 inactivation decreases CCDC22 and CCDC93 protein levels, impairs the recycling of the LDLR (low-density lipoprotein receptor), and increases plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in mice. However, whether any of the other COMMD members function similarly as COMMD1 and whether perturbation in the CCC complex promotes atherogenesis remain unclear. Objective: The main aim of this study is to unravel the contribution of evolutionarily conserved COMMD proteins to plasma lipoprotein levels and atherogenesis. Methods and Results: Using liver-specific Commd1 , Commd6 , or Commd9 knockout mice, we investigated the relation between the COMMD proteins in the regulation of plasma cholesterol levels. Combining biochemical and quantitative targeted proteomic approaches, we found that hepatic COMMD1, COMMD6, or COMMD9 deficiency resulted in massive reduction in the protein levels of all 10 COMMDs. This decrease in COMMD protein levels coincided with destabilizing of the core (CCDC22, CCDC93, and chromosome 16 open reading frame 62 [C16orf62]) of the CCC complex, reduced cell surface levels of LDLR and LRP1 (LDLR-related protein 1), followed by increased plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. To assess the direct contribution of the CCC core in the regulation of plasma cholesterol levels, Ccdc22 was deleted in mouse livers via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated somatic gene editing. CCDC22 deficiency also destabilized the complete CCC complex and resulted in elevated plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Finally, we found that hepatic disruption of the CCC complex exacerbates dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis in ApoE3*Leiden mice. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings demonstrate a strong interrelationship between COMMD proteins and the core of the CCC complex in endosomal LDLR trafficking. Hepatic disruption of either of these CCC components causes hypercholesterolemia and exacerbates atherosclerosis. Our results indicate that not only COMMD1 but all other COMMDs and CCC components may be potential targets for modulating plasma lipid levels in humans.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

The COMMD family stabilizes the CCC complex in hepatocytes, and loss of Commd1, Commd6, Commd9, or Ccdc22 reduces cell-surface LDLR/LRP1 and raises plasma LDL cholesterol. In ApoE3*Leiden mice, hepatic CCC inactivation exacerbates hyperlipidemia and accelerates aortic-root atherosclerosis.

Key findings

  • Hepatic Commd6 knockout increased plasma total cholesterol by ≈37% on chow (P<0.01) and ≈40% on high-fat high-cholesterol diet (P<0.001), with increased LDL cholesterol and ApoB100; hepatic Commd9 ablation similarly increased plasma total cholesterol and ApoB100 (P<0.001).
  • COMMD6 colocalized with WASH1, FAM21, COMMD1, and VPS35; COMMD6 deficiency reduced total and plasma-membrane LDLR and LRP1 in primary hepatocytes.
  • COMMD6 silencing reduced COMMD1 protein without affecting COMMD1 mRNA; MG132 partially restored COMMD1. Hepatic Commd1 or Commd6 deletion reduced all COMMD proteins and CCC core subunits by ≈70% (P<0.05), increased WASH1 by ≈50% (P<0.05), while retromer, LDLR, and LRP1 were unaffected; Commd9 loss reduced CCC core similarly but COMMD1/2/3/6/8 only by 40%–50%.
  • Liver CRISPR/Cas9 Ccdc22 editing reduced CCDC22 by ≈70%, lowered CCDC93/C16orf62/COMMD1, and raised plasma total cholesterol by ≈35% (P<0.01) via LDL cholesterol and ApoB100. In ApoE3*L;Commd1ΔHep mice fed HFC for 12 weeks, plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride rose ≈100% (P<0.001) and aortic-root lesion area was ≈50% larger (P<0.01); no aortic arch lesions were observed.

Methods

  • Mouse models included liver-specific Commd1, Commd6, and Commd9 knockouts; adenoviral CRISPR/Cas9 Ccdc22 editing; ApoE3*Leiden mice; AAV-PCSK9-D377Y; and WT/Cas9 controls. Cell work used HEK293T, HepG2, Huh7, RAW264.7, and primary hepatocytes.
  • Assays included plasma/liver cholesterol and triglyceride measurements, FPLC lipoprotein fractionation, Western blot, qRT-PCR, immunoprecipitation, sucrose gradients, targeted proteomics (QconCAT LC-MS), and atherosclerosis lesion histology/en face Oil Red O.
  • Statistics used Student t test with P<0.05 considered significant; in vitro data were from 3 independent experiments, and mouse data show averages ± SEM with n=7–12 (some analyses n=4–11).

Limitations

  • Stated in the paper: whether human genetic variants in COMMDs, CCDC93, and C16orf62 are associated with plasma lipid levels and cardiovascular events needs validation; the stoichiometry of heterogeneous CCC complexes and the relation between PCSK9-mediated LDLR degradation and CCC-dependent recycling require further study; a possible role for the CCC complex in SR-B1-mediated HDL cholesteryl ester uptake warrants further studies.
  • Evident from the text: the findings rely on mouse liver-specific models and cultured cells rather than human cohorts, and some cited heterozygous-loss data are unpublished (B. van de Sluis, unpublished data, 2017).

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1161/circresaha.117.312004

Cites

40 of 40 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Claims the paper makes

72 Own result · 29 Own interpretation · 22 Sources not found · 3 No basis given · 1 Own method

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  • It may state two separate claims as one. 34
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 10
40 of 40
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The mechanism preventing the lysosomal fate and directing LDLR back to the cell surface is not fully elucidated.

    “but the mechanism preventing the lysosomal fate and directing LDLR back to the cell surface is still not fully elucidated.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The role of COMMD proteins in the regulation of plasma cholesterol levels and atherogenesis has yet to be determined.

    “their role in the regulation of plasma cholesterol levels and atherogenesis has yet to be determined.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The mechanisms by which intracellular LDLR trafficking is orchestrated remain unclear.

    “but the mechanisms by which intracellular LDLR trafficking is orchestrated remain unclear.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Evaluating the contribution of the CCC complex to dyslipidemia and atherogenesis requires hepatic LDLR expression.

    “which we thought to be essential in evaluating the contribution of the CCC complex to dyslipidemia and atherogenesis.”
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Metadata

Authors
Fedoseienko, A., Wijers, M., Wolters, J. C., Dekker, D., Smit, M., Huijkman, N., Kloosterhuis, N., Klug, H., Schepers, A., Willems van Dijk, K., Levels, J. H. M., Billadeau, D. D., Hofker, M. H., van Deursen, J., Westerterp, M., Burstein, E., Kuivenhoven, J. A., & van de Sluis, B.
Affiliations
  • From the Molecular Genetics Section, Department of Pediatrics (A.F., M. Wijers, J.C.W., D.D., M.S., N.H., N.K., M.H.H., M. Westerterp, J.A.K., B.v.d.S)
  • University Medical Center Groningen (NL)
  • Helmholtz Munich (DE)
  • Department of Human Genetics (K.W.v.D.) and Department of Medicine (K.W.v.D.)
  • Leiden University Medical Center (NL)
  • Division of Oncology Research, Department of Immunology and Biochemistry (D.D.B.)
  • Mayo Clinic (US)
Corresponding author
  • Fedoseienko, Alina
  • Wijers, Melinde
  • Hofker, Marten H.
Venue
Circulation Research
Published
2018-06-08
Volume
122
Issue
12
Pages
1648-1660
ISSN
  • 0009-7330 (ISSN-L)
  • 1524-4571
OpenAlex
W2789459269
Cited by
126
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 5
FWCI
5.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
other-oa
Locations
  • Circulation Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (publishedVersion)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
  • Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion)
  • PuSH - Publication Server of Helmholtz Zentrum München (submittedVersion)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Jan Kornelis de Cock Stichting
  • Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
  • Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Lipid metabolism and disorders
Keywords
COMMD1, LDL receptor, LRP1, plasma LDL cholesterol, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, hepatic lipid metabolism
MeSH terms
Animals, Carrier Proteins, Cell Line, Cholesterol, Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Cytoskeletal Proteins, Humans, Cholesterol, LDL, Liver, Male, Receptors, LDL, Endosomes, Triglycerides, Gene Expression, Gene Deletion, Mice, Knockout, Protein Transport, Tumor Suppressor Proteins, Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1, Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing, Atherosclerosis, Mice, Hep G2 Cells, HEK293 Cells

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