title: A synthetic farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist promotes cholesterol lowering in models of dyslipidemia.
abstract: The nuclear hormone receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) plays a critical role in the regulation of bile acid, triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol homeostasis. WAY-362450 (FXR-450/XL335) is a potent synthetic FXR agonist as characterized in luciferase reporter assays and in mediating FXR target gene regulation in primary human and immortalized mouse hepatocytes. In vivo, WAY-362450 dose dependently decreased serum TG levels after 7 days of oral dosing in western diet-fed low-density lipoprotein receptor-/- mice and in the diabetic mouse strains KK-Ay and db/db comparable to that achieved with the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-alpha agonist, fenofibrate. WAY-362450 treatment also reduced serum cholesterol levels via reductions in LDLc, VLDLc, and HDLc lipoprotein fractions that were not accompanied by hepatic cholesterol accumulation. This cholesterol lowering was dependent on FXR as demonstrated in a hypothyroid-induced hypercholesterolemia setting in FXR-/- mice. In fructose-fed models, WAY-362450 also decreased TG and VLDLc levels in rats and hamsters but significantly increased HDLc levels in rats while reducing HDLc levels in hamsters. The differential effect of WAY-362450 on HDLc is likely due to a murine-specific induction of endothelial lipase and scavenger receptor-BI that does not occur in rats. These studies demonstrate a consistent ability of WAY-362450 to lower both serum TG and cholesterol levels and suggest that synthetic FXR agonists may have clinical utility in the treatment of mixed dyslipidemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, Wyeth Research, 500 Arcola Rd, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA. harnisd@wyeth.com
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Paige E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Mahaney
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borges-Marcucci
authors.forename: KehDih
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Shuguang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gardell
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huard
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Vlasuk
authors.forename: Douglas C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Harnish
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D001381:Azepines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000235:genetics; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001381:Azepines; D002784:Cholesterol; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005632:Fructose; D007211:Indoles; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014280:Triglycerides; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated; C540004:WAY-362450; C515447:leptin receptor, mouse