GPIHBP1 on oligodendrocytes binds lipoprotein lipase within the human brain

M Minjun Liu (Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles) M Madison Hung (Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles) E Ellen Kozlov (Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles) M Megan Hung (Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles) M Mariana Colaço-Gaspar (Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles) S Shristi Roy (Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles) Y Yiping Tu (Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles) S Shino D. Magaki (Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles) C Christopher K. Williams (Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles) M Maarja Andaloussi Mäe (Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University) E Erik C. B. Johnson (Department of Neurology, Emory University) R Robert W. Siegel (Laboratory for Experimental Medicine, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company) R Robert J. Konrad (Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company) M Michael Ploug (Finsen Laboratory, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet) C Christer Betsholtz (Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University) A Anne P. Beigneux (Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles) L Liqun He (Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University) L Loren G. Fong (Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles) S Stephen G. Young (Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles)

Abstract

In peripheral tissues, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is secreted by parenchymal cells (adipocytes, myocytes) into the interstitial spaces, where it is captured by GPIHBP1 (a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein of capillary endothelial cells) and escorted to the luminal surface of capillaries. The LPL inside capillaries hydrolyzes glycerolipids in the plasma lipoproteins, releasing fatty acids for parenchymal cells. In the central nervous system, LPL is synthesized by multiple cell types [e.g., microglia, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs)] and secreted into the interstitium, but a binding site for the LPL has never been identified. By examining single nuclei RNA-seq databases of the human brain, we found that GPIHBP1 is expressed by oligodendrocytes but not by OPCs. This gene-expression profile (high in oligodendrocytes, low in OPCs) is also observed in genes for myelin structural proteins, fatty acid binding and transport proteins, and lipid biosynthetic enzymes. GPIHBP1 expression in oligodendrocytes was confirmed by in situ hybridization studies of human brain and by immunohistochemical staining. Of note, GPIHBP1 and LPL are colocalized on oligodendrocytes in the human brain. Our findings identify GPIHBP1 as a principal binding site for interstitial LPL in the human brain and suggest that GPIHBP1-bound LPL could hydrolyze interstitial lipids and thereby supply oligodendrocytes with fatty acid nutrients.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 23
Published June 09, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (19)

M

Minjun Liu

Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles

M

Madison Hung

Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles

E

Ellen Kozlov

Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles

M

Megan Hung

Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles

M

Mariana Colaço-Gaspar

Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles

S

Shristi Roy

Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles

Y

Yiping Tu

Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles

S

Shino D. Magaki

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles

C

Christopher K. Williams

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles

M

Maarja Andaloussi Mäe

Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University

E

Erik C. B. Johnson

Department of Neurology, Emory University

R

Robert W. Siegel

Laboratory for Experimental Medicine, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company

R

Robert J. Konrad

Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company

M

Michael Ploug

Finsen Laboratory, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet

C

Christer Betsholtz

Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University

A

Anne P. Beigneux

Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles

L

Liqun He

Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University

L

Loren G. Fong

Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles

S

Stephen G. Young

Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles