NPC1 and NPC2 regulate cellular cholesterol homeostasis through generation of low density lipoprotein cholesterol-derived oxysterols.
Mutations in the Niemann-Pick disease genes cause lysosomal cholesterol accumulation and impaired low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol esterification. These findings have been attributed to a block in cholesterol movement from lysosomes to the site of the sterol regulatory machinery. In this study we show that Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) and Niemann-Pick type C2 (NPC2) mutants have increased cellular cholesterol, yet they are unable to suppress LDL receptor activity and cholesterol biosynthesis. Cholesterol overload in both NPC1 and NPC2 mutants results from the failure of LDL cholesterol tobothsuppresssterolregulatoryelement-bindingprotein-dependent gene expression and promote liver X receptor-mediated responses. However, the severity of the defect in regulation of sterol homeostasis does not correlate with endoplasmic reticulum cholesterol levels, but rather with the degree to which NPC mutant fibroblasts fail to appropriately generate 25-hydroxycholesterol and 27-hydroxycholesterol in response to LDL cholesterol. Moreover, we demonstrate that treatment with oxysterols reduces cholesterol in NPC mutants and is able to correct the NPC1I1061T phenotype, the most prevalent NPC1 disease genotype. Our findings support a role for NPC1 and NPC2 in the regulation of sterol homeostasis through generation of LDL cholesterol-derived oxysterols and have important implications for the treatment of NPC disease.
Center for Cardiovascular Research, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110-1010, USA.
Andrey
A
Frolov
Sarah E
SE
Zielinski
Jan R
JR
Crowley
Nicole
N
Dudley-Rucker
Jean E
JE
Schaffer
Daniel S
DS
Ory
D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D005372:Filipin / Q000378:metabolism; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009154:Mutation; D000077296:Niemann-Pick C1 Protein; D009542:Niemann-Pick Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D013261:Sterols / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C106881:NPC1 protein, human; C104585:NPC2 protein, human; D000077296:Niemann-Pick C1 Protein; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D013261:Sterols; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; C076996:27-hydroxycholesterol; C007997:25-hydroxycholesterol; D005372:Filipin; D002784:Cholesterol; D008156:Luciferases; D010100:Oxygen