Atorvastatin prevents carbohydrate response element binding protein activation in the fructose-fed rat by activating protein kinase A.
High fructose intake contributes to the overall epidemic of obesity and metabolic disease. Here we examined whether atorvastatin treatment blocks the activation of the carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP) in the fructose-fed rat. Fructose feeding increased blood pressure (21%, P < 0.05), plasma free fatty acids (59%, P < 0.01), and plasma triglyceride levels (129%, P < 0.001) compared with control rats fed standard chow. These increases were prevented by atorvastatin. Rats fed the fructose-rich diet showed enhanced hepatic messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (Gpat1) (1.45-fold induction, P < 0.05), which is the rate-limiting enzyme for the synthesis of triglycerides, and liver triglyceride content (2.35-fold induction, P < 0.001). Drug treatment inhibited the induction of Gpat1 and increased the expression of liver-type carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (L-Cpt-1) (128%, P < 0.01). These observations indicate that atorvastatin diverts fatty acids from triglyceride synthesis to fatty acid oxidation, which is consistent with the reduction in liver triglyceride levels (28%, P < 0.01) observed after atorvastatin treatment. The expression of Gpat1 is regulated by ChREBP and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c). Atorvastatin treatment prevented fructose-induced ChREBP translocation and the increase in ChREBP DNA-binding activity while reducing SREBP-1c DNA-binding activity. Statin treatment increased phospho-protein kinase A (PKA), which promotes nuclear exclusion of ChREBP and reduces its DNA-binding activity. Human HepG2 cells exposed to fructose showed enhanced ChREBP DNA-binding activity, which was not observed in the presence of atorvastatin. Furthermore, atorvastatin treatment increased the CPT-I mRNA levels in these cells. Interestingly, both effects of this drug were abolished in the presence of the PKA inhibitor H89.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that atorvastatin inhibits fructose-induced ChREBP activity and increases CPT-I expression by activating PKA.
Rodríguez-Calvo
Ricardo
R
Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Barroso
Emma
E
Serrano
Lucía
L
Coll
Teresa
T
Sánchez
Rosa M
RM
Merlos
Manuel
M
Palomer
Xavier
X
Laguna
Juan C
JC
Vázquez-Carrera
Manuel
M
D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005632:Fructose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005992:Glycerol-3-Phosphate O-Acyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 / Q000378:metabolism
D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; C442825:Mlxipl protein, rat; D011758:Pyrroles; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; D005632:Fructose; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D005992:Glycerol-3-Phosphate O-Acyltransferase; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases