title: Cafestol, the cholesterol-raising factor in boiled coffee, suppresses bile acid synthesis by downregulation of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase and sterol 27-hydroxylase in rat hepatocytes.
abstract: Consumption of boiled coffee raises serum cholesterol levels in humans. The diterpenes cafestol and kahweol in boiled coffee have been found to be responsible for the increase. To investigate the biochemical background of this effect, we studied the effects of cafestol and a mixture of cafestol/kahweol/isokahweol (48:47:5 w/w) on bile acid synthesis and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase and sterol 27-hydroxylase in cultured rat hepatocytes. Dose-dependent decreases of bile acid mass production and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase and sterol 27-hydroxylase activity were found, showing a maximal reduction of -91%, -79%, and -49% respectively, at a concentration of 20 micrograms/mL cafestol. The decrease in 7 alpha-hydroxylase and 27-hydroxylase activity paralleled well the suppression of the respective mRNAs, being -79% and -77%, and -49% and -46%, respectively, at 20 micrograms/mL cafestol. Run-on data showed a reduction in 7 alpha-hydroxylase and 27-hydroxylase gene transcriptional activity after incubation with cafestol. The mixture of cafestol/kahweol/isokahweol was less potent in suppression of bile acid synthesis and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase. Cafestol (20 micrograms/mL) had no effect on lithocholic acid 6 beta-hydroxylase mRNA, another enzyme involved in bile acid synthesis. LDL-receptor, HMG-CoA reductase, and HMG-CoA synthase mRNAs were significantly decreased by cafestol (-18%, -20%, and -43%, respectively). We conclude that cafestol suppresses bile acid synthesis by downregulation of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase and of, to a lesser extent, sterol 27-hydroxylase in cultured rat hepatocytes, whereas kahweol and isokahweol are less active. We suggest that suppression of bile acid synthesis may provide an explanation for the cholesterol-raising effect of cafestol in humans.
authors.affiliation: Gaubius Laboratory, TNO-PG, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: de Wit
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Princen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053493:Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000378:metabolism; D003069:Coffee / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006904:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D003069:Coffee; D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; D004224:Diterpenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D013729:Terpenes; D014280:Triglycerides; C053401:kahweol; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D002784:Cholesterol; C053400:cafestol; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase; D053493:Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase; D006904:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Synthase