Histone deacetylase inhibition decreases cholesterol levels in neuronal cells by modulating key genes in cholesterol synthesis, uptake and efflux

PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e53394. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053394. Epub 2013 Jan 10.

Abstract

Cholesterol is an essential component of the central nervous system and increasing evidence suggests an association between brain cholesterol metabolism dysfunction and the onset of neurodegenerative disorders. Interestingly, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) such as trichostatin A (TSA) are emerging as promising therapeutic approaches in neurodegenerative diseases, but their effect on brain cholesterol metabolism is poorly understood. We have previously demonstrated that HDACi up-regulate CYP46A1 gene transcription, a key enzyme in neuronal cholesterol homeostasis. In this study, TSA was shown to modulate the transcription of other genes involved in cholesterol metabolism in human neuroblastoma cells, namely by up-regulating genes that control cholesterol efflux and down-regulating genes involved in cholesterol synthesis and uptake, thus leading to an overall decrease in total cholesterol content. Furthermore, co-treatment with the amphipathic drug U18666A that can mimic the intracellular cholesterol accumulation observed in cells of Niemman-Pick type C patients, revealed that TSA can ameliorate the phenotype induced by pathological cholesterol accumulation, by restoring the expression of key genes involved in cholesterol synthesis, uptake and efflux and promoting lysosomal cholesterol redistribution. These results clarify the role of TSA in the modulation of neuronal cholesterol metabolism at the transcriptional level, and emphasize the idea of HDAC inhibition as a promising therapeutic tool in neurodegenerative disorders with impaired cholesterol metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Androstenes / pharmacology
  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Biological Transport / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cholesterol / biosynthesis*
  • Cholesterol / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hydroxamic Acids / pharmacology
  • Intracellular Space / drug effects
  • Intracellular Space / metabolism
  • Lysosomes / drug effects
  • Lysosomes / metabolism
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / enzymology*
  • Phenotype
  • Proteolysis / drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2 / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects

Substances

  • Androstenes
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
  • Hydroxamic Acids
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2
  • 3-beta-(2-(diethylamino)ethoxy)androst-5-en-17-one
  • trichostatin A
  • Cholesterol

Grants and funding

This work was supported by FEDER (COMPETE Programme) and by national funds (FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia - projects PTDC/SAU-NMC/110809/2009 and PEst-OE/SAU/UI4013/2011, and PhD grants SFRH/BD/41848/2007 to MJN and SFRH/BD/78041/2011 to MM). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.