title: Liver X receptor agonist T0901317 reduces atherosclerotic lesions in apoE-/- mice by up-regulating NPC1 expression.
abstract: In this study, we studied the effect of liver X receptor (LXR) agonist T0901317 on Niemann-Pick C1 protein (NPC1) expression in apoE-/- mice. Male apoE-/- mice were randomized into 4 groups, baseline group (n=10), control group (n = 14), treatment group (n = 14) and prevention group (n = 14). All of the mice were fed with a high-fat/high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet containing 15% fat and 0.25% cholesterol. The baseline group treated with vehicle was sacrificed after 8 weeks of the diet. The control group and the prevention group were treated with either vehicle or T0901317 daily by oral gavage for 14 weeks. The treatment group was treated with vehicle for 8 weeks, and then was treated with the agonist T0901317 for additional 6 weeks. Gene and protein expression was analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, respectively. Plasma lipid concentrations were measured by commercially enzymatic methods. We used RNA interference technology to silence NPC1 gene expression in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells and then detected the effect of LXR agonist T0901317 on cholesterol efflux. Plasma triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apoA-I concentrations were markedly increased in T0901317-treated groups. T0901317 treatment reduced the aortic atherosclerotic lesion area by 64.2% in the prevention group and 58.3% in the treatment group. LXR agonist treatment increased NPC1 mRNA expression and protein levels in the small intestine, liver and aorta of apoE-/- mice. Compared with the normal cells, cholesterol efflux of siRNA THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells was significantly decreased, whereas cholesterol efflux of LXR agonist T0901317-treated THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells was significantly increased. Our results suggest that LXR agonist T0901317 inhibits atherosclerosis development in apoE-/- mice, which is related to up-regulating NPC1 expression.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Key Laboratory for Atherosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: XiaoYan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: ZhiFeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: YaLing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: DongLi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: XinRui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: YanWei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: XiaoXu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: ChaoKe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000819:agonists*; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D000077296:Niemann-Pick C1 Protein; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000819:agonists*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D000077296:Niemann-Pick C1 Protein; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D011506:Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D013449:Sulfonamides; C106831:Npc1 protein, mouse; C423915:T0901317; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides