title: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha reduces cholesterol esterification in macrophages.
abstract: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) is a nuclear receptor activated by fatty acid derivatives and hypolipidemic drugs of the fibrate class. PPARalpha is expressed in monocytes, macrophages, and foam cells, suggesting a role for this receptor in macrophage lipid homeostasis with consequences for atherosclerosis development. Recently, it was shown that PPARalpha activation promotes cholesterol efflux from macrophages via induction of the ABCA1 pathway. In the present study, the influence of PPARalpha activators on intracellular cholesterol homeostasis was investigated. In human macrophages and foam cells, treatment with fibrates, synthetic PPARalpha activators, led to a decrease in the cholesteryl ester (CE):free cholesterol (FC) ratio. In these cells, PPARalpha activation reduced cholesterol esterification rates and Acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase-1 (ACAT1) activity. However, PPARalpha activation did not alter ACAT1 gene expression, whereas mRNA levels of carnitine palmitoyltransferase type 1 (CPT-1), a key enzyme in mitochondrial fatty acid catabolism, were induced. Finally, PPARalpha activation blocked CE formation induced by TNF-alpha, possibly due to the inhibition of neutral sphingomyelinase activation by TNF-alpha. In conclusion, our results identify a role for PPARalpha in the control of cholesterol esterification in macrophages, resulting in an enhanced availability of FC for efflux through the ABCA1 pathway.
authors.affiliation: UR 545 INSERM, Institut Pasteur de Lille and Université de Lille 2, Lille, France. giulia.chinetti@pasteur-lille.fr
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chinetti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lestavel
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fruchart
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Clavey
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Staels
mesh_terms: D002334:Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004951:Esterification / Q000187:drug effects; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020025:Peroxisome Proliferators / Q000494:pharmacology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D008024:Ligands; D020025:Peroxisome Proliferators; D011743:Pyrimidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C006253:pirinixic acid; D002784:Cholesterol; D002334:Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase