Androgens stimulate lipogenic gene expression in prostate cancer cells by activation of the sterol regulatory element-binding protein cleavage activating protein/sterol regulatory element-binding protein pathway

Using two independent prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP and MDA-PCa-2a), we demonstrate that coordinated stimulation of lipogenic gene expression by androgens is a common phenomenon in androgen-responsive prostate tumor lines and involves activation of the sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) pathway. We show 1) that in both cell lines, androgens stimulate the expression of fatty acid synthase and hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A synthase, two key lipogenic genes representative for the fatty acid and the cholesterol synthesis pathway, respectively; 2) that treatment with androgens results in increased nuclear levels of active SREBP; 3) that the effects of androgens on promoter-reporter constructs derived from both lipogenic genes (fatty acid synthase and hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A synthase) depend on the presence of intact SREBP-binding sites; and 4) that cotransfection with dominant-negative forms of SREBPs abolishes the effects of androgens. Related to the mechanism underlying androgen activation of the SREBP pathway, we show that in addition to minor effects on SREBP precursor levels, androgens induce a major increase in the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein cleavage-activating protein (SCAP), an escort protein that transports SREBPs from their site of synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum to their site of proteolytical activation in the Golgi. Both time course studies and overexpression experiments showing that increasing levels of SCAP enhance the production of mature SREBP and stimulate lipogenic gene expression support the contention that SCAP plays a pivotal role in the lipogenic effects of androgens in tumor cells.     

Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins induce an entire pathway of cholesterol synthesis

To evaluate the effects of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) on the expression of the individual enzymes in the cholesterol synthetic pathway, we examined expression of these genes in the livers from wild-type and transgenic mice overexpressing nuclear SREBP-1a or -2. As estimated by a Northern blot analysis, overexpression of nuclear SREBP-1a or -2 caused marked increases in mRNA levels of the whole battery of cholesterogenic genes. This SREBP activation covers not only rate-limiting enzymes such as HMG CoA synthase and reductase that have been well established as SREBP targets, but also all the enzyme genes in the cholesterol synthetic pathway tested here. The activated genes include mevalonate kinase, mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase, isopentenyl phosphate isomerase, geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase, farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, squalene synthase, squalene epoxidase, lanosterol synthase, lanosterol demethylase, and 7-dehydro-cholesterol reductase. These results demonstrate that SREBPs activate every step of cholesterol synthetic pathway, contributing to an efficient cholesterol synthesis.     

SCAP与胆固醇水平的调节机制

SREBP裂解激活蛋白（SREBP cleavage-activating protein,SCAP）是哺乳动物脂质合成和摄入的中心调节因素。在胆固醇代谢的反馈调节系统中,SCAP与膜结合转录因子胆固醇调节元件结合蛋白（sterol regulatory element binding proteins,SREBPs）等调节因子,共同控制一系列酶编码基因的转录过程,包括胆固醇和脂肪酸生物合成过程中所需的酶。作者介绍了SREBP的结合、分类和功能及其二步蛋白水解释放;SCAP的结合和作用机制及其在胆固醇水平调节中的作用;SCAP基因缺陷型及其胆固醇水平异常,并提出了尚待解决的问题,对SCAP的研究是胆固醇水平调节领域的一个新课题。     

Regulation of the SREBP transcription factors by mTORC1

In recent years several reports have linked mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1) to lipogenesis via the SREBPs (sterol-regulatory-element-binding proteins). SREBPs regulate the expression of genes encoding enzymes required for fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis. Lipid metabolism is perturbed in some diseases and SREBP target genes, such as FASN (fatty acid synthase), have been shown to be up-regulated in some cancers. We have previously shown that mTORC1 plays a role in SREBP activation and Akt/PKB (protein kinase B)-dependent de novo lipogenesis. Our findings suggest that mTORC1 plays a crucial role in the activation of SREBP and that the activation of lipid biosynthesis through the induction of SREBP could be part of a regulatory pathway that co-ordinates protein and lipid biosynthesis during cell growth. In the present paper, we discuss the increasing amount of data supporting the potential mechanisms of mTORC1-dependent activation of SREBP as well as the implications of this signalling pathway in cancer.     

The Hepatitis C Virus-induced NLRP3 Inflammasome Activates the Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Protein (SREBP) and Regulates Lipid Metabolism

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) relies on host lipids and lipid droplets for replication and morphogenesis. The accumulation of lipid droplets in infected hepatocytes manifests as hepatosteatosis, a common pathology observed in chronic hepatitis C patients. One way by which HCV promotes the accumulation of intracellular lipids is through enhancing de novo lipogenesis by activating the sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs). In general, activation of SREBPs occurs during cholesterol depletion. Interestingly, during HCV infection, the activation of SREBPs occurs under normal cholesterol levels, but the underlying mechanisms are still elusive. Our previous study has demonstrated the activation of the inflammasome complex in HCV-infected human hepatoma cells. In this study, we elucidate the potential link between chronic hepatitis C-associated inflammation and alteration of lipid homeostasis in infected cells. Our results reveal that the HCV-activated NLRP3 inflammasome is required for the up-regulation of lipogenic genes such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A synthase, fatty acid synthase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase. Using pharmacological inhibitors and siRNA against the inflammasome components (NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD, and caspase-1), we further show that the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome plays a critical role in lipid droplet formation. NLRP3 inflammasome activation in HCV-infected cells enables caspase-1-mediated degradation of insulin-induced gene proteins. This subsequently leads to the transport of the SREBP cleavage-activating protein·SREBP complex from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi, followed by proteolytic activation of SREBPs by S1P and S2P in the Golgi. Typically, inflammasome activation leads to viral clearance. Paradoxically, here we demonstrate how HCV exploits the NLRP3 inflammasome to activate SREBPs and host lipid metabolism, leading to liver disease pathogenesis associated with chronic HCV.     

固醇调节元件结合蛋白与脂质代谢

固醇调节元件结合蛋白(sterol regulatory element-binding proteins,SREBPs)是脊椎动物细胞脂质稳态的转录调节物,可直接激活多个参与胆固醇、脂肪酸、甘油三酯、磷脂合成和摄取,以及辅助因子NADPH等基因的表达,从而调控胆固醇及脂肪酸等脂类的代谢过程。本文综述了SREBPs转运和活化的过程,以及调节细胞脂质稳态功能的分子机制,并探讨了其在脂代谢紊乱相关疾病发生中的重要作用。     

Piperine Induces Hepatic Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Expression through Proteolytic Activation of Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Proteins

Elevated plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is considered as a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Because the hepatic LDL receptor (LDLR) uptakes plasma lipoproteins and lowers plasma LDL cholesterol, the activation of LDLR is a promising drug target for atherosclerosis. In the present study, we identified the naturally occurring alkaloid piperine, as an inducer of LDLR gene expression by screening the effectors of human LDLR promoter. The treatment of HepG2 cells with piperine increased LDLR expression at mRNA and protein levels and stimulated LDL uptake. Subsequent luciferase reporter gene assays revealed that the mutation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-binding element abolished the piperine-mediated induction of LDLR promoter activity. Further, piperine treatments increased mRNA levels of several SREBP targets and mature forms of SREBPs. However, the piperine-mediated induction of the mature forms of SREBPs was not observed in SRD–15 cells, which lack insulin-induced gene–1 (Insig–1) and Insig–2. Finally, the knockdown of SREBPs completely abolished the piperine-meditated induction of LDLR gene expression in HepG2 cells, indicating that piperine stimulates the proteolytic activation of SREBP and subsequent induction of LDLR expression and activity.     

SREBP介导的基因表达的调控(英文)

SREBP转录因子是脂类代谢的重要调节者。当细胞有脂类需求时,在内质网膜上的SREBP前体通过蛋白水解被激活。然后,氨基端的SREBP片段被运到细胞核内激活靶基因的转录。细胞培养和转基因小鼠模型的研究已经证明,SREBP的主要靶基因包括负责脂肪和胆固醇合成的酶,以及低密度脂蛋白受体。早期对SREBP的研究相当完善地揭示了其前体被激活的机理。最近的研究又使我们认识了细胞核内SREBP的调控机理。在细胞核中,SREBP会结合特定的转录辅助因子,刺激或抑制其靶基因的转录,这些转录辅助因子包括CBP/p300和Mediator蛋白复合体。此外,细胞核内SREBP的稳定性受磷酸化和乙酰化的调节。细胞核内SREBP的这种蛋白质相互作用和修饰,使细胞内外信号(如胰岛素或氧化应激)更好地控制脂类合成。在正常生理状态下,脂质动态平衡是严格保持着的,然而,在有些病理条件下,如肥胖、二型糖尿病、心血管疾病和脂肪肝,SREBP往往会失调。因此,SREBP的新调控机制可能对治疗代谢性疾病提供新的机遇。