title: Blockage of the ERK signaling pathway abrogates the SCAP ligand-induced transcriptional activation of the LDL receptor gene in HepG2 cells.
abstract: Previous studies identified the putative SCAP ligands including compound GW707 as a new class of up-regulators of LDL receptor (LDLR) transcription by activation of the sterol-regulatory element binding proteins (SREBP). These compounds increase LDLR expression in hepatoma cells in vitro and lower plasma LDL-c in hamsters. However, it is unknown, what signaling pathways are utilized by these agents that lead to the activation of LDLR transcription. Here, we report that the ERK signaling cascade is critically involved in GW707-mediated induction of LDLR expression. We show that: a) blocking ERK activation with U0126, the inhibitor of ERK upstream kinase MEK, completely abolishes the inducing effects of GW707 on LDLR promoter activity, LDLR mRNA expression, and DiI-LDL uptake in HepG2 cells; b) treating HepG2 cells with GW707 induces a dose-dependent conversion of SREBP-2 from the 125 kDa precursor form to the 68 kDa activated form and U0126 does not inhibit this cleavage process, but U0126 significantly reduces the total amount of SREBP-2 protein in GW707-treated cells without affecting the expression levels of other proteins involving in SREBP processing; and c) inhibition of ERK signaling pathway has no effects on the promoter activity or mRNA expression of SREBP-2. Collectively, these new findings establish an important role of ERK signaling pathway in SCAP ligand-induced transcription of LDLR and imply that the protein synthesis or turnover rate of SREBP-2 may be regulated by ERK.
authors.affiliation: VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
authors.forename: Parveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abidi
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jingwen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000235:genetics*; D013256:Steroids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D002070:Butadienes; C442817:GW 707; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009570:Nitriles; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011973:Receptors, LDL; C102196:SREBP cleavage-activating protein; D013256:Steroids; C113580:U 0126; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases