ATP-binding Cassette Transporter A1 Promoter Activity Research Articles

SREBP2 promotes the viability, proliferation, and migration and inhibits apoptosis in TGF-β1-induced airway smooth muscle cells by regulating TLR2/NF-κB/NFATc1/ABCA1 regulatory network

ABSTRACT Asthma is a respiratory disease with complex pathogenesis. Sterol-responsive element-binding proteins 2 (SREBP2) was found to bind to promoter sequences of ABCA1 to suppress ABCA1 promoter activity. This study aimed to explore the expression level of SREBP2 and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), and their effects on the development of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) in asthma. ASMCs were treated with different concentrations of TGF-β1 (0, 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 ng/mL). Short hairpin SREBP2 (shSREBP2), SREBP2, shABCA1 or ABCA1 were transfected into ASMCs. Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and the expression of SREBP2, ABCA1 and related pathway proteins were detected by MTT assay, Brdu staining, flow cytometer, Transwell assay, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting, respectively. The results showed that TGF-β1 increased the viability, proliferation, migration and inhibited apoptosis in ASMCs. Moreover, TGF-β1 also decreased the expression of ABCA1, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, E-cadherin, and increased the expression of vimentin, TLR2, p-p65 and NFATc1. SREBP2 knockdown alleviated these TGF-β1-induced changes. SREBP2 overexpression inhibited ABCA1 expression and apoptosis, and promoted cell migration and the expression of TLR2, p-p65, NFATc1 in ASMCs. ABCA1 overexpression alleviated these SREBP2-induced promoting and inhibition effects. In conclusion, SREBP2 activates TLR2/NF-κB/NFATc1 regulatory network and promotes TGF-β1-induced cell movement through inhibiting ABCA1 expression.

Effects of 2-Methoxyestradiol, a Main Metabolite of Estradiol on Hepatic ABCA1 Expression in HepG2 Cells.

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) is a key regulator of lipid efflux, and the absence of ABCA1 induces hepatic lipid accumulation, which is one of the major causes of fatty liver. 2-Methoxyestradiol (2-ME2) has been demonstrated to protect against fatty liver. In this study, we investigated the effects of 2-ME2 on the hepatic lipid content and ABCA1 expression. We found that 2-ME2 dose-dependently increased ABCA1 expression, and therefore, the lipid content was significantly decreased in HepG2 cells. 2-ME2 enhanced the ABCA1 promoter activity; however, this effect was reduced after the inhibition of the PI3K pathway. The overexpression of Akt or p110 induced ABCA1 promoter activity, while dominant-negative Akt diminished the ability of 2-ME2 on ABCA1 promoter activity. Further, 2-ME2 stimulated the rapid phosphorylation of Akt and FoxO1 and reduced the nuclear accumulation of FoxO1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed that FoxO1 bonded to the ABCA1 promoter region. The binding was reduced by 2-ME2, which facilitated ABCA1 gene transcription. Furthermore, mutating FoxO1-binding sites in the ABCA1 promoter region or treatment with FoxO1-specific siRNA disrupted the effect of 2-ME2 on ABCA1 expression. All of our results demonstrated that 2-ME2 might upregulate ABCA1 expression via the PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 pathway, which thus reduces the lipid content in hepatocytes.

Role of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 in suppressing lipid accumulation by glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist in hepatocytes

ObjectiveAdenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) influences hepatic cholesterol transportation. Accumulation of hepatic cholesterol leads to fatty liver disease, which is improved by glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) in diabetes. Therefore, we analyzed the molecular mechanism in the regulation of hepatic ABCA1 by GLP-1 analogue exendin-4. MethodsHepatic ABCA1 expression and transcription were checked by western blotting, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and luciferase assay in HepG2 cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and site-directed mutagenesis were employed to determine transcriptional regulation of the ABCA1 gene. Prolactin regulatory element-binding (PREB)-transgenic mice were generated to access the effect of exendin-4 on improving lipid accumulation caused by a high-fat diet (HFD). ResultsExendin-4 stimulated hepatic ABCA1 expression and transcription via the Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase kinase/CaM-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKK/CaMKIV) pathway, whereas GLP-1 receptor antagonist exendin9-39 cancelled this effect. Therefore, exendin-4 decreased hepatic lipid content. ChIP showed that PREB could directly bind to the ABCA1 promoter, which was enhanced by exendin-4. Moreover, PREB stimulated ABCA1 promoter activity, and mutation of PREB-binding site in ABCA1 promoter cancelled exendin-4-enhanced ABCA1 promoter activity. Silencing of PREB attenuated the effect of exendin-4 and induced hepatic cholesterol accumulation. Blockade of CaMKK by STO-609 or siRNA cancelled the upregulation of ABCA1 and PREB induced by exendin-4. In vivo, exendin-4 or overexpression of PREB increased hepatic ABCA1 expression and decreased hepatic lipid accumulation and high plasma cholesterol caused by a HFD. ConclusionsOur data shows that exendin-4 stimulates hepatic ABCA1 expression and decreases lipid accumulation by the CaMKK/CaMKIV/PREB pathway, suggesting that ABCA1 and PREB might be the therapeutic targets in fatty liver disease.

Effect of TNF-α on the expression of ABCA1 in pancreatic β-cells.

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), a 254-kD membrane protein, is a key regulator of lipid efflux from cells to apolipoproteins. ABCA1 in pancreatic β-cells influences insulin secretion and cholesterol homeostasis. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is a pleiotropic cytokine that elicits a wide spectrum of physiological events, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, and is also known to decrease glucose-dependent insulin secretion in pancreatic islets. In the present study, we examined the role of TNF-α on ABCA1 expression in rat pancreatic islets and INS-1 cells. ABCA1 protein levels decreased in response to rising concentrations of TNF-α in pancreatic islets. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed a significant decrease in ABCA1 mRNA expression. In parallel with its effect on endogenous ABCA1 mRNA levels, TNF-α suppressed the activity of a reporter construct containing the ABCA1 promoter. This effect was abrogated by BIRB796, but not by SB203580 or PD98095. The constitutively active form of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) γ suppressed ABCA1 promoter activity but not p38-MAPK (α, β), while a dominant-negative mutant of p38-MAPK γ blocked the effect of TNF-α on ABCA1 promoter activity. BIRB796 inhibited the increased cholesterol ester content induced by TNF-α. However, BIRB796 had no effect on the decreased insulin content nor ABCA1 suppression caused by TNF-α in INS-1 cells. In summary, TNF-α suppressed the expression of endogenous ABCA1 in pancreatic islets and INS-1 cells. These findings raise the possibility that TNF-α may affect insulin secretion by controlling ABCA1 expression.

Selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α modulator K-877 regulates the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 in pancreatic beta cells

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) protein is a pivotal regulator of cholesterol and phospholipid efflux from cells to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. Pancreatic ABCA1 functions in beta cell cholesterol homeostasis and affects insulin secretion. We investigated the effect of pemafibrate (K-877), a novel selective PPARα modulator (SPPARMα), on pancreatic ABCA1 expression. In vivo experiment, mice were divided into four treatment groups, namely, normal food plus placebo, high fat diet (HFD) plus placebo, normal food plus K-877 (0.3 mg/kg/day), or HFD plus K-877 (0.3 mg/kg/day), and treated for eight weeks. The results in vitro experiment indicate that K-877 treatment increased levels of ABCA1 mRNA, as well as protein, subsequently reduced the cellular cholesterol content in INS-1 cells. PPARα specific antagonist GW6471 attenuate K-877 induced ABCA1 expression in INS-1 cells. ABCA1 promoter activity increased with K-877 treatment at concentration 1 μM and 10 μM. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was ameliorated by K-877 treatment in INS-1 cells and isolated mouse islets. Although the expression of ABCA1 was reduced in mice with HFD treatment, both ABCA1 protein and mRNA levels were increased in mice with K-877 treatment. K-877 treatment improved glucose intolerance induced by HFD in mice. These findings raise the possibility that K-877 may affect insulin secretion by controlling ABCA1 expression in pancreatic beta cells.

IGF1 suppresses cholesterol accumulation in the liver of growth hormone-deficient mice via the activation of ABCA1.

Recently, several clinical studies have suggested that adult growth hormone (GH) deficiency that also has low concentration of IGF1 is associated with an increased prevalence of fatty liver (FL). ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) is a pivotal regulator of lipid efflux from cells to apolipoproteins and plays an important role on formation of FL. In this study, we determined the effects of IGF1 on ABCA1 expression in GH-deficient mice to clarify its effects on FL. Western blotting, real-time PCR, and a luciferase assay were employed to examine the effect of IGF1. The binding of FoxO1 to the ABCA1 promoter was assessed by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Cholesterol accumulation was analyzed by Oil Red O stain and cholesterol content measurement. We confirmed that IGF1 upregulated the ABCA1 expression. The activity of a reporter construct containing the ABCA1 promoter was induced by IGF1, and this effect was blocked by LY294002, a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Constitutively active Akt stimulated the ABCA1 promoter activity, and a dominant-negative mutant of Akt or mutagenesis of the FoxO1 response element abolished the effect of IGF1. A ChIP assay indicated that FoxO1 mediated IGF1 transcriptional activity by directly binding to the ABCA1 promoter region. For in vivo experiments, we used an inhibitor for the GH receptor (Pegvisomant) to reduce the IGF1 level. A high-fat diet induced FL in mice (C57BL/6J) given Pegvisomant treatment. IGF1 treatment stimulated ABCA1 expression to improve cholesterol accumulation in these mice. These results show that the PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 pathway contributes to the regulation of ABCA1 expression in response to IGF1 stimulation that suppressed FL in GH-deficient mice.

Novel mechanism of transcriptional repression of the human ATP binding cassette transporter A1 gene in hepatic cells by the winged helix/forkhead box transcription factor A2

ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) plays a key role in the biogenesis of HDL by promoting the efflux of cellular cholesterol and phospholipids to lipid free apoA-I. Mutations in the ABCA1 gene cause Tangier disease which is characterized by near or complete absence of circulating plasma HDL. In the present study we show that the winged helix/forkhead box containing transcription factor A2 (FOXA2) shown previously to play a role in glucose and bile acid homeostasis in the liver and in energy utilization in adipose tissue is a negative modulator of ABCA1 gene expression in hepatic cells. We show that the ABCA1 promoter contains three FOXA2 binding elements in the proximal region. Two of the sites are localized in a region of the ABCA1 promoter enriched in binding elements for transcriptional repressor proteins whereas the third site is the core of the TATA element of the ABCA1 promoter. Inhibition of FOXA2 binding to the ABCA1 promoter by site-directed mutagenesis or FOXA2 gene expression by siRNA was associated with increased ABCA1 promoter activity and protein levels. Overexpression of FOXA2 inhibited both the constitutive ABCA1 gene expression as well as ABCA1 gene induction by oxysterols and retinoids via nuclear receptors LXRα/RXRα. In summary, the present study identifies transcription factor FOXA2 as a negative modulator of ABCA1 gene expression in hepatic cells and reveals a novel mechanism of transcriptional repression by FOXA2 which involves the TATA element of the ABCA1 gene.

DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors induce macrophage ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux—An LXR-dependent mechanism

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) facilitates cholesterol efflux and thereby inhibits lipid-laden macrophage/foam cell formation and atherosclerosis. ABCA1 expression is transcriptionally regulated by activation of liver X receptor (LXR). Both etoposide and teniposide are DNA topoisomerase II (Topo II) inhibitors and are chemotherapeutic medications used in the treatment of various cancers. Interestingly, etoposide inhibits atherosclerosis in rabbits by unclear mechanisms. Herein, we report the effects of etoposide and teniposide on macrophage ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux. Both etoposide and teniposide increased macrophage free cholesterol efflux. This increase was associated with increased ABCA1 mRNA and protein expression. Etoposide and teniposide also increased ABCA1 promoter activity in an LXR-dependent manner and formation of the LXRE-LXR/RXR complex indicating that transcriptional induction had occurred. Expression of ABCG1 and fatty acid synthase (FAS), another two LXR-targeted genes, was also induced by etoposide and teniposide. In vivo, administration of mice with either etoposide or teniposide induced macrophage ABCA1 expression and enhanced reverse cholesterol transport from macrophages to feces. Taken together, our study indicates that etoposide and teniposide increase macrophage ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux that may be attributed to the anti-atherogenic properties of etoposide. Our study also describes a new function for Topo II inhibitors in addition to their role in anti-tumorigenesis.

Functional rescue of mutant ABCA1 proteins by sodium 4-phenylbutyrate

Mutations in the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) are a major cause of decreased HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), which infers an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Many ABCA1 mutants show impaired localization to the plasma membrane. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the chemical chaperone, sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) could improve cellular localization and function of ABCA1 mutants. Nine different ABCA1 mutants (p.A594T, p.I659V, p.R1068H, p.T1512M, p.Y1767D, p.N1800H, p.R2004K, p.A2028V, p.Q2239N) expressed in HEK293 cells, displaying different degrees of mislocalization to the plasma membrane and discrete impacts on cholesterol efflux, were subject to treatment with 4-PBA. Treatment restored localization to the plasma membrane and increased cholesterol efflux function for the majority of mutants. Treatment with 4-PBA also increased ABCA1 protein expression in all transfected cell lines. In fibroblast cells obtained from low HDL-C subjects expressing two of the ABCA1 mutants (p.R1068H and p.N1800H), 4-PBA increased cholesterol efflux without any increase in ABCA1 expression. Our study is the first to investigate the effect of the chemical chaperone, 4-PBA on ABCA1 and shows that it is capable of restoring plasma membrane localization and enhancing the cholesterol efflux function of mutant ABCA1s both in vitro and ex vivo. These results suggest 4-PBA may warrant further investigation as a potential therapy for increasing cholesterol efflux and HDL-C levels.

Quercetin enhances ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux through a p38-dependent pathway in macrophages

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) plays a crucial role in exporting cholesterol from macrophages, a function relevant to its involvement in the prevention of atherosclerosis. Quercetin, one of flavonoids, has been described to reduce atherosclerotic lesion formation. This study is aimed to investigate the effect of quercetin on regulation of ABCA1 expression and to explore its underlying mechanisms in macrophages. The results show that quercetin markedly enhanced cholesterol efflux from macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with an increase in ABCA1 mRNA and protein expression. Remarkably, quercetin is able to stimulate the phosphorylation of p38 by up to 234-fold at 6 h via an activation of the transforming growth factor β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) and mitogen-activated kinase kinase 3/6 (MKK3/6). Inhibition of p38 with a pharmacological inhibitor or small hairpin RNA (shRNA) suppressed the stimulatory effects of quercetin on ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux. Moreover, knockdown of p38 reduced quercetin-enhanced ABCA1 promoter activity and the binding of specificity protein 1 (Sp1) and liver X receptor α (LXRα) to the ABCA1 promoter using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. These findings provide evidence that p38 signaling is essential for the regulation of quercetin-induced ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux in macrophages.

A novel signaling pathway for regulation of ATP‐binding cassette transporter A1 expression

The objective of this study is to characterize the signaling pathway for regulation of ATP‐binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expression. Quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR assay and Western blot analysis revealed that treatment of macrophages with reelin, apolipoprotein E (ApoE) or ApoE‐containing lipoproteins increased ABCA1 mRNA and protein expression. In addition, these reagents significantly increased the level of phosphorylated disabled‐1 (Dab1), phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K), protein kinase C‐æ (PKC‐æ), and specificity protein 1 (Sp1), increased the amount of Sp1 bound to the ABCA1 promoter, and induced PKC‐æ binding with Sp1. Mutation of the Sp1 binding site in the ABCA1 promoter suppressed the ABCA1 promoter activity induced by reelin, ApoE or ApoE‐containing lipoproteins. The upregulation effect of these reagents on ABCA1 expression was suppressed by: 1) knockdown of Dab1, very low‐density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) and apolipoprotein E receptor 2 (ApoER2) with siRNAs, 2) inhibition of PI3K and PKC with kinase inhibitors, 3) overexpression of kinase‐dead PKC‐æ, and 4) inhibition of Sp1 DNA‐binding with mithramycin A. These results, together with the known function of these signaling proteins, suggest that ABCA1 expression can be upregulated by activation of the VLDLR/ApoER2‐Dab1‐PI3K‐PKCæ‐Sp1 signaling cascade.Grant support: SC1HL101431 (HY) and R01HL089382 (ZMG).

A Novel Function of Apolipoprotein E: Upregulation of ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter A1 Expression

Despite the well known importance of apolipoprotein (Apo) E in cholesterol efflux, the effect of ApoE on the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) has never been investigated. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of ApoE on ApoB-carrying lipoprotein-induced expression of ABCA1, a protein that mediates cholesterol efflux. Our data demonstrate that ApoB-carrying lipoproteins obtained from both wild-type and ApoE knockout mice induced ApoAI-mediated cholesterol efflux in mouse macrophages, which was associated with an enhanced ABCA1 promoter activity, and an increased ABCA1 mRNA and protein expression. In addition, these lipoproteins increased the level of phosphorylated specificity protein 1 (Sp1) and the amount of Sp1 bound to the ABCA1 promoter. However, all these inductions were significantly diminished in cells treated with ApoE-free lipoproteins, when compared to those treated with wild-type lipoproteins. Enrichment with human ApoE3 reversed the reduced inducibility of ApoE-free lipoproteins. Moreover, we observed that inhibition of Sp1 DNA-binding by mithramycin A diminished ABCA1 expression and ApoAI-mediated cholesterol efflux induced by ApoB-carrying lipoproteins, and that mutation of the Sp1-binding motif in the ABCA1 promoter region diminished ApoB-carrying lipoprotein-induced ABCA1 promoter activity. Collectively, these data suggest that ApoE associated with ApoB-carrying lipoproteins has an upregulatory role on ABCA1 expression, and that induction of Sp1 phosphorylation is a mechanism by which ApoE upregulates ABCA1 expression.

Transcriptional Regulation of ATP-binding Cassette Transporter A1 Expression by a Novel Signaling Pathway

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) is a membrane-bound protein that regulates the efflux of cholesterol derived from internalized lipoproteins. Using a mouse macrophage cell line, this report studied the impact of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) on ABCA1 expression and the signaling pathway responsible for lipoprotein-induced ABCA1 expression. Our data demonstrated that treatment of macrophages with LDL increased ABCA1 mRNA and protein levels 4.3- and 3.5-fold, respectively. LDL also induced an ∼2-fold increase in macrophage surface expression of ABCA1 and a 14-fold-increase in apolipoprotein AI-mediated cholesterol efflux. In addition, LDL significantly increased the level of phosphorylated specificity protein 1 (Sp1) and the amount of Sp1 bound to the ABCA1 promoter without alteration in total Sp1 protein level. Mutation of the Sp1 binding site in the ABCA1 promoter and inhibition of Sp1 DNA binding with mithramycin A suppressed the ABCA1 promoter activity and reduced the ABCA1 expression level induced by LDL. LDL treatment also elevated protein kinase C-ζ (PKC-ζ) phosphorylation and induced PKC-ζ binding with Sp1. Inhibition of PKC-ζ with kinase inhibitors or overexpression of kinase-dead PKC-ζ attenuated Sp1 phosphorylation and ABCA1 expression induced by LDL. These results demonstrate for the first time that activation of the PKCζ-Sp1 signaling cascade is a mechanism for regulation of LDL-induced ABCA1 expression.

TNF-α decreases ABCA1 expression and attenuates HDL cholesterol efflux in the human intestinal cell line Caco-2

HDL cholesterol levels are decreased in Crohn's disease, a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-driven chronic inflammatory condition involving the gastrointestinal tract. ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), one of several liver X receptor (LXR) target genes, is a cell surface transporter that mediates the rate-controlling step in HDL synthesis. The regulation of ABCA1 and HDL cholesterol efflux by TNF-alpha was investigated in the human intestinal cell line Caco-2. In response to cholesterol micelles or T0901317, an LXR nonsterol agonist, TNF-alpha decreased the basolateral efflux of cholesterol to apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1). TNF-alpha, by attenuating ABCA1 promoter activity, markedly decreased ABCA1 gene expression without attenuating the expression of LXR-alpha, LXR-beta, and most other LXR target genes, such as ABCG1, FAS, ABCG8, scavenger receptor-B1 (SR-B1), and apoC1. TNF-alpha also decreased ABCA1 mass by markedly enhancing the rate of ABCA1 degradation and modestly inhibiting its rate of synthesis. Inhibitors of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway, which is activated by TNF-alpha, partially reverse the effect of TNF-alpha on ABCA1 protein expression. The results suggest that TNF-alpha, the major cytokine implicated in the inflammation of Crohn's disease, decreases HDL cholesterol levels by attenuating the expression of intestinal ABCA1 and cholesterol efflux to apoA1.

Hyperglycemia Suppresses ABCA1 Expression in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Hyperglycemia is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic disease. The ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) functions as a pivotal regulator of lipid efflux from cells to apolipoproteins and is thus involved in lowering the risk of atherosclerosis. In this study, we have examined the glucose-mediated regulation of the ABCA1 gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. ABCA1 expression was examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blot analysis, and reporter gene assay. The results showed that the expression of the ABCA1 mRNA and protein decreased after the cells were treated with 22.4 mM glucose for 48 h. The transcriptional activity of the ABCA1 promoter paralleled the endogenous expression of the ABCA1 gene. Next, we used inhibitors of certain signal transduction pathways to demonstrate that the glucose-induced ABCA1 suppression is sensitive to the p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors. The expression of a constitutively active form of p38-MAPK in the cells inhibited the ABCA1 promoter activity, irrespective of the presence of glucose. A dominant-negative mutant of p38-MAPK abrogated the inhibitory effect of glucose on the ABCA1 promoter activity. These results indicate that the glucose-induced suppression of ABCA1 expression is partially mediated by the activation of the p38-MAPK pathway.

Exendin-4 regulates pancreatic ABCA1 transcription via CaMKK/CaMKIV pathway

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) in pancreatic β cells influences insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis. This study investigates whether the long-acting agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1, namely exendin-4, which mediates stimulatory effects on ABCA1 gene expression, could interfere with the Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) cascade. ABCA1 promoter activity was examined by reporter gene assay in rat insulin-secreting INS-1 cells incubated with exendin-4. CaMKIV activity was assessed by detection of activation-loop phosphorylation (Thr196) of CaMKIV. We investigated the influence of the constitutively active form (CaMKIVc) or CaMKIV knockdown on ABCA1 expression. Increased abundance of ABCA1 protein was noted in response to rising concentrations of exendin-4 with maximum induction at 10 nM. Exendin-4 also stimulated ABCA1 promoter activity, but failed to do so in the presence of STO-609, a CaMKK inhibitor. Up-regulation of CaMKIV phosphorylation (at Thr196) peaked after 10 min. of exposure to exendin-4. CaMKIVc enhanced or up-regulated ABCA1 promoter activity in INS-1 cells. Furthermore, exendin-4 induction of ABCA1 protein expression was significantly suppressed in cells treated with CaMKIV-siRNA. Activation of the CaMKK/CaMKIV cascade by exendin-4 stimulated ABCA1 gene transcription, indicating that exendin-4 plays an important role in insulin secretion and cholesterol ester content in pancreatic β cells.

Suppression of 2,3-Oxidosqualene Cyclase by High Fat Diet Contributes to Liver X Receptor-α-mediated Improvement of Hepatic Lipid Profile

The liver X receptors (LXRs) sense oxysterols and regulate genes involved in cholesterol metabolism. Synthetic agonists of LXRs are potent stimulators of fatty acid synthesis, which is mediated largely by sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c). Paradoxically, an improved hepatic lipid profile by LXR was observed in mice fed a Western high fat (HF) diet. To explore the underlying mechanism, we administered mice normal chow or an HF diet and overexpressed LXRalpha in the liver. The HF diet with tail-vein injection of adenovirus of LXRalpha increased the expression of LXR-targeted genes involved in cholesterol reverse transport but not those involved in fatty acid synthesis. A similar effect was also observed with the use of 22R-hydroxycholesterol, an LXR ligand, in cultured hepatocytes. Consequently, SREBP-1c maturation was inhibited by the HF diet, which resulted from the induction of Insig-2a. Importantly, increased cholesterol level suppressed the expression of 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC), which led to an increase in endogenous LXR ligand(s). Furthermore, siRNA-mediated knockdown of OSC expression enhanced LXR activity and selectively up-regulated LXR-targeted genes involved in cholesterol reverse transport. Thus, down-regulation of OSC may account for a novel mechanism underlying the LXR-mediated lipid metabolism in the liver of mice fed an HF diet.

Induction of ABCA1 by overexpression of hormone-sensitive lipase in macrophages

Initial step toward the reverse-cholesterol transport is cholesterol efflux that is mediated by the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1). However, it is unknown how the cholesteryl ester (CE) hydrolysis induces the expression of the ABCA1 gene. Overexpression of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) increased the hydrolysis of CE and stimulated the expression of ABCA1 gene at the transcriptional level in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The stimulatory effects of the HSL overexpression and cholesterol loading on the ABCA1 promoter activity were additive. Mutational analyses of the promoter of ABCA1 identified the responsible element as the direct repeat-4 (DR-4) that binds LXR/RXR heterodimers. In conclusion, stimulation of hydrolysis of CE in macrophages induces the expression of ABCA1 gene primarily via the LXR-dependent pathway and can be useful for the prevention of atherosclerosis.

ROS and NF-κB but not LXR mediate IL-1β signaling for the downregulation of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), a pivotal regulator of cholesterol efflux from cells to apolipoproteins, plays an important role in cholesterol homeostasis. As an inflammatory factor, IL-1beta has been shown to downregulate ABCA1 in macrophages and facilitates foam cell formation. However, the molecular mechanism underlining the downregulated ABCA1 by IL-1beta is still elusive. In the present study, we demonstrated that IL-1beta downregulated ABCA1 but not ABCG1 at mRNA and protein levels in a time- and dose-dependent manner in THP-1 and A549 cells. IL-1beta attenuated ABCA1 promoter activity through an LXR (liver X receptor)-independent pathway, since IL-1beta did not alter the expression and activities of LXRalpha/beta, and deletion of the LXR responsive element from the ABCA1 promoter failed to reverse the IL-1beta effect. In contrast, NF-kappaB inhibition by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and MG132 prevented the suppression of ABCA1 by IL-1beta. Cotransfection with ABCA1 luciferase reporter and the expression plasmids of Rel A decreased ABCA1 promoter activities. An adenovirus expressing NF-kappaB inhibitor subunit-alpha inhibited NF-kappaB activities and also reversed the IL-1beta effect at the promoter activity and protein levels of ABCA1. In addition, IL-1beta could induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a scavenger of ROS, reversed the decreased level of ABCA1 induced by IL-1beta. H(2)O(2) decreased ABCA1 at the mRNA and protein levels and the promoter activity. Thus our data provide strong evidence that ROS and NF-kappaB, but not LXR, mediate the IL-1beta-induced downregulation of ABCA1 via a novel transcriptional mechanism, which might play an important role of proinflammation in the alteration of lipid metabolism.

Transcriptional Repression of ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter A1 Gene in Macrophages

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a powerful accelerator of atherosclerosis. Herein, we describe a novel transcription mechanism through which Ang II inhibits macrophage expression of the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), a key regulator of reverse cholesterol transport. We demonstrate that chronic Ang II infusion substantially promotes macrophage infiltration, foam cell formation, and atherosclerosis in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice and significantly reduces ABCA1 expression in peripheral macrophages. Administration of the Ang II type 1 receptor blocker valsartan inhibited Ang II-induced ABCA1 mRNA repression, macrophage cholesterol accumulation, and atherosclerosis. Ang II treatment reduced ABCA1 promoter activity of in vitro cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages, inducing fos-related antigen 2 (Fra2) protein binding to an ABCA1 promoter E-box motif, a site known to negatively regulate macrophage ABCA1 transcription. Valsartan pretreatment blocked Fra2 binding to the ABCA1 promoter, and Fra2 small interfering RNA pretreatment attenuated Ang II-mediated ABCA1 transcriptional inhibition, confirming the role of Fra2 in this process. This new evidence suggests that Ang II, a well-known proinflammatory and pro-oxidative factor, alters macrophage cholesterol homeostasis by repressing ABCA1 to promote foam cell formation and atherosclerosis.