Sauchinone controls hepatic cholesterol homeostasis by the negative regulation of PCSK9 transcriptional network

Sci Rep. 2018 Apr 30;8(1):6737. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-24935-6.

Abstract

Whole-transcriptome analysis and western blotting of sauchinone-treated HepG2 cells demonstrated that sauchinone regulated genes relevant to cholesterol metabolism and synthesis. In particular, it was found that the expression of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) was downregulated, and the expression of low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) was upregulated in sauchinone-treated HepG2 cells. Consequently, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) uptake was increased. As a transcriptional regulator of PCSK9 expression, sterol regulatory elements binding protein-2 (SREBP-2) was proposed by transcriptome analysis and western blotting. Oral administration of sauchinone increased hepatic LDLR through PCSK9 inhibition in obese mice and showed the reduced serum LDL-C levels and downstream targets of SREBP-2. Thus, it is evident that sauchinone reduces hepatic steatosis by downregulating the expression of hepatic PCSK9 via SREBP-2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzopyrans / administration & dosage*
  • Cholesterol / genetics
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Cholesterol, LDL / genetics
  • Dioxoles / administration & dosage*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fatty Liver / blood
  • Fatty Liver / drug therapy*
  • Fatty Liver / genetics
  • Fatty Liver / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / drug effects
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Homeostasis / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Mice
  • Proprotein Convertase 9 / genetics*
  • Receptors, LDL / genetics
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2 / genetics*
  • Transcriptome / genetics

Substances

  • Benzopyrans
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Dioxoles
  • LDLR protein, human
  • Receptors, LDL
  • SREBF2 protein, human
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2
  • sauchinone
  • Cholesterol
  • PCSK9 protein, human
  • Proprotein Convertase 9