Inhibition of ileal bile acid transport and reduced atherosclerosis in apoE−/− mice by SC-435

Blocking intestinal bile acid absorption by inhibiting the apical sodium codependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) is a target for increasing hepatic bile acid synthesis and reducing plasma LDL cholesterol. SC-435 was identified as a potent inhibitor of ASBT (IC 5 0 = 1.5 nM) in cells transfected with the human ASBT gene. Dietary administration of 3 mg/kg to 30 mg/kg SC-435 to apolipoprotein E - / - (apoE - / - ) mice increased fecal bile acid excretion by >2.5-fold. In vivo inhibition of ASBT also resulted in significant increases of hepatic mRNA levels for cholesterol 7α-hydroxy- lase and HMG-CoA reductase. Administration of 10 mg/kg SC-435 for 12 weeks to apoE - / - mice lowered serum total cholesterol by 35% and reduced aortic root lesion area by 65%. Treatment of apoE - / - mice also resulted in decreased expression of ileal bile add binding protein and hepatic nuclear hormone receptor small heterodimer partner, direct target genes of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), suggesting a possible role of FXR in SC-435 modulation of cholesterol homeostasis. In dogs, SC-435 treatment reduced serum total cholesterol levels by ≤12% and, in combination with atorvastatin treatment, caused an additional reduction of 25%. These results suggest that specific inhibition of ASBT is a novel therapeutic approach for treatment of hypercholesterolemia resulting in a decreased risk for atherosclerosis.