Metformin and AMP Kinase Activation Increase Expression of the Sterol Transporters ABCG5/8 (ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter G5/G8) With Potential Antiatherogenic Consequences.

The mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular benefit of the anti-diabetic drug metformin are poorly understood. Recent studies have suggested metformin may upregulate macrophage reverse cholesterol transport. The final steps of reverse cholesterol transport are mediated by the sterol transporters, ABCG5 (ATP-binding cassette transporter G5) and ABCG8 (ATP-binding cassette transporter G8), which facilitate hepato-biliary transport of cholesterol. This study was undertaken to assess the possibility that metformin induces Abcg5 and Abcg8 expression in liver and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Metformin-treated mouse or human primary hepatocytes showed increased expression of Abcg5/8 and the bile salt export pump, Bsep. Administration of metformin to Western-type diet-fed mice showed significant upregulation of Abcg5/8 and Bsep. This resulted in increased initial clearance of 3H-cholesteryl ester HDL (high-density lipoprotein) from plasma. However, fecal 3H-cholesterol output was only marginally increased, possibly reflecting increased hepatic Ldlr (low-density lipoprotein receptor) expression, which would increase nonradiolabeled cholesterol uptake. Abcg5/8 undergo strong circadian variation. Available chromatin immunoprecipitation-Seq data suggested multiple binding sites for Period 2, a transcriptional repressor, within the Abcg5/8 locus. Addition of AMPK (5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase) agonists decreased Period 2 occupancy, suggesting derepression of Abcg5/8. Inhibition of ATP citrate lyase, which generates acetyl-CoA from citrate, also decreased Period 2 occupancy, with concomitant upregulation of Abcg5/8. This suggests a mechanistic link between feeding-induced acetyl-CoA production and decreased cholesterol excretion via Period 2, resulting in inhibition of Abcg5/8 expression. Our findings provide partial support for the concept that metformin may provide cardiovascular benefit via increased reverse cholesterol transport but also indicate increased Ldlr expression as a potential additional mechanism. AMPK activation or ATP citrate lyase inhibition may mediate antiatherogenic effects through increased ABCG5/8 expression.

Molusky MM ，Hsieh J ，Lee SX ，Ramakrishnan R ，Tascau L ，Haeusler RA ，Accili D ，Tall AR ... -  《-》

Evidence that the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette G5/G8-independent pathway plays a determinant role in cholesterol gallstone formation in mice.

The adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette (ABC) sterol transporter, Abcg5/g8, is Lith9 in mice, and two gallstone-associated variants in ABCG5/G8 have been identified in humans. Although ABCG5/G8 plays a critical role in determining hepatic sterol secretion, cholesterol is still secreted to bile in sitosterolemic patients with a defect in either ABCG5 or ABCG8 and in either Abcg5/g8 double- or single-knockout mice. We hypothesize that in the defect of ABCG5/G8, an ABCG5/G8-independent pathway is essential for regulating hepatic secretion of biliary sterols, which is independent of the lithogenic mechanism of the ABCG5/G8 pathway. To elucidate the effect of the ABCG5/G8-independent pathway on cholelithogenesis, we investigated the biliary and gallstone characteristics in male wild-type (WT), ABCG5(-/-)/G8(-/-), and ABCG8 (-/-) mice fed a lithogenic diet or varying amounts of cholesterol, treated with a liver X receptor (LXR) agonist, or injected intravenously with [(3) H]sitostanol- and [(14) C]cholesterol-labeled high-density lipoprotein (HDL). We found that ABCG5(-/-)/G8(-/-) and ABCG8 (-/-) mice displayed the same biliary and gallstone phenotypes. Although both groups of knockout mice showed a significant reduction in hepatic cholesterol output compared to WT mice, they still formed gallstones. The LXR agonist significantly increased biliary cholesterol secretion and gallstones in WT, but not ABCG5(-/-)/G8(-/-) or ABCG8 (-/-), mice. The 6-hour recovery of [(14) C]cholesterol in hepatic bile was significantly lower in both groups of knockout mice than in WT mice and [(3) H]sitostanol was detected in WT, but not ABCG5(-/-)/G8(-/-) or ABCG8 (-/-), mice. The ABCG5/G8-independent pathway plays an important role in regulating biliary cholesterol secretion, the transport of HDL-derived cholesterol from plasma to bile, and gallstone formation, which works independently of the ABCG5/G8 pathway. Further studies are needed to observe whether this pathway is also operational in humans. (Hepatology 2016;64:853-864).

Wang HH ，Li X ，Patel SB ，Wang DQ ... -  《-》

Association of ABCG5 and ABCG8 Transporters with Sitosterolemia.

Bydlowski SP ，Levy D 《Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology》

LAL (Lysosomal Acid Lipase) Promotes Reverse Cholesterol Transport In Vitro and In Vivo.

To explore the role of LAL (lysosomal acid lipase) in macrophage cholesterol efflux and whole-body reverse cholesterol transport. Immortalized peritoneal macrophages from lal-/- mice showed reduced expression of ABCA1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter A1) and ABCG1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter G1), reduced production of the regulatory oxysterol 27-hydroxycholesterol, and impaired suppression of cholesterol synthesis on exposure to acetylated low-density lipoprotein when compared with lal+/+ macrophages. LAL-deficient mice also showed reduced hepatic ABCG5 (ATP-binding cassette transporter G5) and ABCG8 (ATP-binding cassette transporter G8) expression compared with lal+/+ mice. LAL-deficient macrophages loaded with [3H]-cholesteryl oleate-labeled acetylated low-density lipoprotein showed impaired efflux of released [3H]-cholesterol to apoA-I (apolipoprotein A-I), with normalization of [3H]-cholesteryl ester levels and partial correction of ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux to apoA-I when treated with exogenous rhLAL (recombinant human LAL protein). LAL-deficient mice injected intraperitoneally with lal-/- macrophages cholesterol loaded and labeled in the same way exhibited only 1.55±0.35% total injected [3H]-cholesterol counts appearing in the feces for 48 h (n=30), compared with 5.38±0.92% in lal+/+ mice injected with labeled lal+/+ macrophages (n=27), P<0.001. To mimic the therapeutic condition of delivery of supplemental LAL in vivo, injection of labeled lal-/- macrophages into lal+/+ mice resulted in a significant increase in reverse cholesterol transport (2.60±0.46% of 3H-cholesterol counts in feces at 48 hours [n=19]; P<0.001 when compared with injection into lal-/- mice). These results indicate a critical role for LAL in promoting both macrophage and whole-body reverse cholesterol transport and the ability of supplemental LAL to be taken up and correct reverse cholesterol transport in vivo.

Bowden KL ，Dubland JA ，Chan T ，Xu YH ，Grabowski GA ，Du H ，Francis GA ... -  《-》

Transmembrane Polar Relay Drives the Allosteric Regulation for ABCG5/G8 Sterol Transporter.

Xavier BM ，Zein AA ，Venes A ，Wang J ，Lee JY ... -  《INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES》