Transcriptional regulation of cholesterol 24-hydroxylase by histone deacetylase inhibitors.

Marjan Shafaati, Karolinska Institute
Riona O'Driscoll, Dublin Institute of Technology
Ingemar Bjorkhem, Karolinska Institute
Steve Meaney, Dublin Institute of Technology

Document Type Article

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. Volume 378, Issue 4, 23 January 2009, Pages 689-694 Available from the Publisher here http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleListURL&_method=list&_ArticleListID=1612253013&_sort=r&_st=13&view=c&_acct=C000056897&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=2322584&md5=d2e75cb75ebfbbf817f7f93db7dfe9da&searchtype=a

Abstract

The mechanistic basis for the tissue specific expression of cholesterol elimination pathways is poorly understood. To gain additional insight into this phenomenon we considered it of interest to investigate if epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the regulation of the brain-specific enzyme cholesterol 24-hydroxylase (CYP46A1), a key regulator of brain cholesterol elimination. We demonstrated a marked time-dependent derepression of the expression of CYP46A1, in response to treatment with the potent histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor Trichostatin A. The pattern of expression of the genes in the genomic region surrounding CYP46A1 was found to be diametrically opposite in brain and liver. Intraperitoneal injection of HDAC inhibitors in mice led to a significant derepression of hepatic Cyp46a1 mRNA expression and tissue specific changes in Hmgcr and Cyp39a1 mRNA expression. These results are discussed in the context of the phenomenology of tissue specific cholesterol balance.