title: Myriocin-mediated up-regulation of hepatocyte apoA-I synthesis is associated with ERK inhibition.
abstract: Sphingolipids including sphingomyelin have been implicated as potential atherogenic lipids. Studies in apoE (apolipoprotein E)-null mice have revealed that the serine palmitoyltransferase inhibitor myriocin reduces plasma levels of sphingomyelin, ceramide, sphingosine-1-phosphate and glycosphingolipids and that this is associated with potent inhibition of atherosclerosis. Interestingly, hepatic apoA-I (apolipoprotein A-I) synthesis and plasma HDL (high-density lipoprotein)-cholesterol levels were also increased in apoE-null mice treated with myriocin. Since myriocin is a known inhibitor of ERK (extracellular-signal-related kinase) phosphorylation, we assessed the possibility that myriocin may be acting to increase hepatic apoA-I production via this pathway. To address this, HepG2 cells and primary mouse hepatocytes were treated with 200 muM myriocin for up to 48 h. Myriocin increased apoA-I mRNA and protein levels by approx. 3- and 2-fold respectively. Myriocin also increased apoA-I secretion up to 3.5-fold and decreased ERK phosphorylation by approx. 70%. Similar findings were obtained when primary hepatocytes were isolated from apoE-null mice that were treated with myriocin (intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg body weight). Further experiments revealed that the MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase) inhibitor PD98059 potently inhibited ERK phosphorylation, as expected, and increased primary hepatocyte apoA-I production by 3-fold. These results indicate that ERK phosphorylation plays a role in regulating hepatic apoA-I expression and suggest that the anti-atherogenic mechanism of action for myriocin may be linked to this pathway.
authors.forename: Elias N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Glaros
authors.forename: Woojin S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Garner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; C001996:thermozymocidin