Impaired regulation of sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 in cholesterol gallstone-susceptible mice.
Lipid synthesis is under tight transcriptional control involving sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBP1, SREBP2). Rising cellular cholesterol levels prevent SREBP2 from entering the nucleus to directly activate the expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (Hmgcr), the key enzyme of cholesterol synthesis. The failure to down-regulate cholesterol synthesis in gallstone-susceptible C57L/J but not AKR/J mice prompted us to study the processing of SREBP2 in these mice. Male mice of each strain received a control or lithogenic diet for 28 days. Membrane and nuclear extracts of pooled livers were prepared for immunoblot analysis of SREBP. Steady-state mRNA levels of Hmgcr, Srebp1, Srebp2 and the SREBP cleavage activating protein (Scap) were measured from individual livers. There was no marked difference between the two strains with regard to processing of SREBP1 as well as steady-state mRNA levels of Srebp1, Srebp2 and Scap. However, a near-complete suppression of nuclear SREBP2 related to low Hmgcr mRNA levels was noticed only for gallstone-resistant AKR mice. Abnormal regulation of SREBP2 appears to be responsible for the failure to suppress cholesterol synthesis in genetically cholesterol gallstone-susceptible mice. This defect may contribute to cholesterol hypersecretion and gallstone formation.
Xu
Guoqiang
G
Division of Gastroenterology, Medical University of Schleswig-Holstein Campus Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany.
Müller
Oliver
O
Stange
Eduard F
EF
Fuchs
Michael
M
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D042882:Gallstones / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D016350:Leucine Zippers / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; D051782:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C497388:Srebf1 protein, mouse; C497391:Srebf2 protein, mouse; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; D051782:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol