Roles of nuclear receptors in the up-regulation of hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase by cholestyramine in rats

Abstract Nuclear receptors are involved in regulating the expression of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), however, their roles in the up-regulation of CYP7A1 by cholestyramine (CSR) are still unclear. In the present study, male Wistar rats were divided into four groups and fed [high sucrose + 10% lard diet] (H), [H + 3% CSR diet] (H + CSR), [H + 0.5% cholesterol + 0.25% sodium cholate diet] (C), or [C + 3% CSR diet] (C + CSR) for 2 weeks. Cholestyramine decreased serum and liver cholesterol levels significantly in rats fed C-based diets, but had no effect on these parameters in rats fed H-based diets. Cholestyramine raised hepatic levels of CYP7A1 mRNA and activity in both groups. The gene expression of hepatic ATP-binding cassettes A1 and G5, regulated by liver X receptor (LXR), were unchanged and down-regulated by cholestyramine, respectively. The mRNA levels of the hepatic ATP-binding cassette B11 and short heterodimer partner (SHP), regulated by farnesoid X receptor (FXR), were not changed by cholestyramine. C-based diets, which contained cholesterol and cholic acid, increased SHP mRNA levels compared to H-based diets. Consequently, in rats fed the C + CSR diet, hepatic FXR was activated by dietary bile acids, but the hepatic CYP7A1 mRNA level was increased 16-fold compared to that in rats fed an H diet. These results suggest that cholestyramine up-regulates the expression of CYP7A1 independently via LXR- or FXR-mediated pathways in rats.