Evidence that the scavenger receptor is not involved in the uptake of negatively charged liposomes by cells.

Scavenger receptors have a broad ligand specificity, ranging from modified low-density lipoproteins to a variety of high-molecular-weight poly-anions. A recent report by Nishikawa et al. (J. Biol. Chem. (1990) 265, 5226-5231) suggested that this receptor is also involved in the binding and endocytosis of liposomes containing negatively charged phospholipids. The mechanism by which liposomes are taken up by cells is of interest because liposomes are promising versatile carriers for macromolecules and drugs both in vitro and in vivo. In this report, we re-examine the role of the scavenger receptor in the uptake of liposomes using both Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with the type I or type II bovine scavenger receptor, and smooth muscle cells induced to increase scavenger receptor expression by phorbol ester treatment. Expression of both types of scavenger receptors by Chinese hamster ovary cells induced an increase in the uptake of chemically modified low-density lipoproteins, but not the uptake of negatively charged liposomes. In smooth muscle cells treated with phorbol ester, scavenger receptor expression was upregulated and the uptake of chemically modified low-density lipoproteins was enhanced dramatically, but there was no effect on the uptake of negatively charged liposomes. We conclude that the existing evidence does not support the suggestion that the scavenger receptor is involved in the uptake of anionic liposomes by cells.