Jeffrey W. Chisholm

Liver X receptors α and β regulate renin expression in vivo

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system controls blood pressure and salt-volume homeostasis. Renin, which is the first enzymatic step of the cascade, is critically regulated at the transcriptional level. In the present study, we investigated the role of liver X receptor alpha (LXR(alpha)) and LXR(beta) in the regulation of renin. In vitro, both LXRs could bind to a noncanonical responsive element in the renin promoter and regulated renin transcription. While LXR(alpha) functioned as a cAMP-activated factor, LXR(beta) was inversely affected by cAMP. In vivo, LXRs colocalized in juxtaglomerular cells, in which LXR(alpha) was specifically enriched, and interacted with the renin promoter. In mouse models, renin-angiotensin activation was associated with increased binding of LXR(alpha) to the responsive element. Moreover, acute administration of LXR agonists was followed by upregulation of renin transcription. In LXR(alpha) mice, the elevation of renin triggered by adrenergic stimulation was abolished. Untreated LXR(beta) mice exhibited reduced kidney renin mRNA levels compared with controls. LXR(alpha)LXR(beta) mice showed a combined phenotype of lower basal renin and blunted adrenergic response. In conclusion, we show herein that LXR(alpha) and LXR(beta) regulate renin expression in vivo by directly interacting with the renin promoter and that the cAMP/LXR(alpha) signaling pathway is required for the adrenergic control of the renin-angiotensin system.

High plasma cholesterol in drug-induced cholestasis is associated with enhanced hepatic cholesterol synthesis.

In α-naphthylisothiocyanate-treated mice, plasma phospholipid (PL) levels were elevated 10- and 13-fold at 48 and 168 h, respectively, whereas free cholesterol (FC) levels increased between 48 h (17-fold) and 168 h (39-fold). Nearly all of these lipids were localized to lipoprotein X-like particles in the low-density lipoprotein density range. The PL fatty acyl composition was indicative of biliary origin. Liver cholesterol and PL content were near normal at all time points. Hepatic hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase activity was increased sixfold at 48 h, and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase activity was decreased by ∼70% between 24 and 72 h. These findings suggest a metabolic basis for the appearance of abnormal plasma lipoproteins during cholestasis. Initially, PL and bile acids appear in plasma where they serve to promote the efflux of cholesterol from hepatic cell membranes. Hepatic cholesterol synthesis is then likely stimulated in the response to the depletion of hepatic cell membranes of cholesterol. We speculate that the enhanced synthesis of cholesterol and impaired conversion to bile acids, particularly during the early phase of drug response, contribute to the accumulation of FC in the plasma.In alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate-treated mice, plasma phospholipid (PL) levels were elevated 10- and 13-fold at 48 and 168 h, respectively, whereas free cholesterol (FC) levels increased between 48 h (17-fold) and 168 h (39-fold). Nearly all of these lipids were localized to lipoprotein X-like particles in the low-density lipoprotein density range. The PL fatty acyl composition was indicative of biliary origin. Liver cholesterol and PL content were near normal at all time points. Hepatic hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase activity was increased sixfold at 48 h, and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase activity was decreased by approximately 70% between 24 and 72 h. These findings suggest a metabolic basis for the appearance of abnormal plasma lipoproteins during cholestasis. Initially, PL and bile acids appear in plasma where they serve to promote the efflux of cholesterol from hepatic cell membranes. Hepatic cholesterol synthesis is then likely stimulated in the response to the depletion of hepatic cell membranes of cholesterol. We speculate that the enhanced synthesis of cholesterol and impaired conversion to bile acids, particularly during the early phase of drug response, contribute to the accumulation of FC in the plasma.

Accumulation of cholestatic lipoproteins in ANIT-treated human apolipoprotein A-I transgenic rats is diminished through dose-dependent apolipoprotein A-I activation of LCAT.

Administration of alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) to rats induces changes to plasma lipids consistent with cholestasis. We have previously shown (J. Lipid Res. 37 (1996) 1086) that animals treated with ANIT accumulate large amounts of free cholesterol (FC) and phospholipid (PL)-rich cholestatic lipoproteins in the LDL density range by 48 h. This lipid was cleared by 120 h through apparent movement into HDL with concomitant cholesteryl ester (CE) production. It was hypothesised that the clearance was mediated through the movement of the PL and FC into apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) containing lipoproteins followed by LCAT esterification to form CE. To test this hypothesis, rats overexpressing various amounts of human apo A-I (TgR[HuAI] rats) were treated with ANIT (100 mg/kg) and the effect of plasma apo A-I concentration on plasma lipids and lipoprotein distribution was examined. In untreated TgR[HuAI] rats, human apo A-I levels were strongly correlated to plasma PL (r(2)=0. 94), FC (r(2)=0.93) and CE (r(2)=0.90), whereas in ANIT-treated TgR[HuAI] rats, human apo A-I levels were most strongly correlated to CE levels (r(2)=0.80) and an increased CE/FC ratio (r(2)=0.62) and the movement of cholestatic lipid in the LDL to HDL. Since LCAT activity was not affected by ANIT treatment, these results demonstrate that the ability of LCAT to esterify the plasma FC present in cholestatic liver disease is limited by in vivo apo A-I activation of the cholestatic lipid and not by the catalytic capacity of LCAT.

Human apoA-I expression in CETP transgenic rats leads to lower levels of apoC-I in HDL and to magnification of CETP-mediated lipoprotein changes.

Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) has a profound effect on neutral lipid transfers between HDLs and apolipoprotein B (apoB)-containing lipoproteins when it is expressed in combination with human apoA-I in HuAI/CETP transgenic (Tg) rodents. In the present study, human apoA-I-mediated lipoprotein changes in HuAI/CETPTg rats are characterized by 3- to 5-fold increments in the apoB-containing lipoprotein-to-HDL cholesterol ratio, and in the cholesteryl ester-to-triglyceride ratio in apoB-containing lipoproteins. These changes occur despite no change in plasma CETP concentration in HuAI/CETPTg rats, as compared with CETPTg rats. A number of HDL apolipoproteins, including rat apoA-I and rat apoC-I are removed from the HDL surface as a result of human apoA-I overexpression. Rat apoC-I, which is known to constitute a potent inhibitor of CETP, accounts for approximately two-thirds of CETP inhibitory activity in HDL from wild-type rats, and the remainder is carried by other HDL-bound apolipoprotein inhibitors. It is concluded that human apoA-I overexpression modifies HDL particles in a way that suppresses their ability to inhibit CETP. An apoC-I decrease in HDL of HuAI/CETPTg rats contributes chiefly to the loss of the CETP-inhibitory potential that is normally associated with wild-type HDL.

Cultured human astrocytes secrete large cholesteryl ester- andtriglyceride-rich lipoproteins along with endothelial lipase

We cultured normal human astrocytes and characterized their secreted lipoproteins. Human astrocytes secreted lipoproteins in the size range of plasma VLDL (Peak 1), LDL (Peak 2), HDL (Peak 3) and a smaller peak (Peak 4), as determined by gel filtration chromatography, nondenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and transmission electron microscopy. Cholesterol enrichment of astrocytes led to a particular increase in Peak 1. Almost all Peak 2, 3 and 4 cholesterol and most Peak 1 cholesterol was esterified (unlike mouse astrocyte lipoproteins, which exhibited similar peaks but where cholesterol was predominantly non-esterified). Triglycerides were present at about 2/3 the level of cholesterol. LCAT was detected along with two of its activators, apolipoprotein (apo) A-IV and apoC-I. ApoA-I and apoA-II mRNA and protein were absent. ApoJ was present equally in all peaks but apoE was present predominantly in peaks 3 and 4. ApoB was not detected. The electron microscopic appearance of Peak 1 lipoproteins suggested partial lipolysis leading to the detection of a heparin-releasable triglyceride lipase consistent with endothelial lipase. The increased neuronal delivery of lipids from large lipoprotein particles, for which apoE4 has greater affinity than does apoE3, may be a mechanism whereby the apoE {var_epsilon}4 allele contributes to neurodegenerative risk.