Regulation of LDL receptor expression by the effect of curcumin on sterol regulatory element pathway

Pharmacol Rep. 2006 Jul-Aug;58(4):577-81.

Abstract

To investigate the molecular mechanisms of the effect of curcumin on up-regulation of LDL receptor expression, a sterol regulatory report system was established in Xenopus laevis oocytes by microinjection of a plasmid pLXRN-4SRE-fPA, in which green fluorescence protein (GFP) gene was constructed downstream from the sterol regulatory element-1 (SRE-1), in the nucleus of the oocytes. The oocytes were treated with different kinds of natural medicines: curcumin, tea polyphenols, tanshinone, ligustrazine, ginkgolide, astragalosides. The expression of GFP was induced only by curcumin. In addition, it was also proved that the curcumin can increase the expression of functional LDL receptors in human liver hepatoma cell line HepG2. In conclusion, curcumin may up-regulate the expression of LDL receptor by its effect on SRE pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Curcumin / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Humans
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Microinjections
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oocytes / drug effects
  • Oocytes / metabolism
  • Receptors, LDL / genetics
  • Receptors, LDL / metabolism*
  • Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional / drug effects*
  • Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional / genetics
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Xenopus laevis

Substances

  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Receptors, LDL
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Curcumin