Fenofibric acid, an active form of fenofibrate, increases apolipoprotein A-I-mediated high-density lipoprotein biogenesis by enhancing transcription of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 gene in a liver X receptor-dependent manner.
OBJECTIVE
Fibrates are widely used drugs to reduce plasma triglyceride and increase high-density lipoprotein. Their active forms, fibric acids, are peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha activators, but no direct evidence has been demonstrated for their activation of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) in relation to clinically used fibrates. We investigated the reaction of fenofibric acid in this regard.


RESULTS
Fenofibric acid was examined for the effect of increase of ABCA1 activity. It enhanced ABCA1 gene transcription and its protein level in macrophage cell line cells and fibroblasts and increased apolipoprotein A-I-mediated cellular lipid release, all in a dose-dependent manner. Enhancement of the gene transcription was examined by using a reporter assay system for liver X receptor responsive element (LXRE) and its inactive mutant. The results demonstrated that the effect of fenofibric acid is dependent on active LXRE.


CONCLUSIONS
Fenofibric acid increased transcription of ABCA1 gene in a liver X receptor-dependent manner.
Arakawa
Reijiro
R
Department of Biochemistry, Cell Biology, and Metabolism, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
Tamehiro
Norimasa
N
Nishimaki-Mogami
Tomoko
T
Ueda
Kazumitsu
K
Yokoyama
Shinji
S
D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D051379:Mice; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; C006012:fenofibric acid; D011345:Fenofibrate