Activation of the Nuclear Receptor PXR Decreases Plasma LDL-Cholesterol Levels and Induces Hepatic Steatosis in LDL Receptor Knockout Mice

To investigate the potential for pregnane X receptor (PXR) ligands as antiatherosclerotic drugs, we have determined the effect of PXR activation on lipid metabolism in an established atherosclerotic mouse model. LDL receptor knockout mice were treated with the PXR agonist PCN. PCN induced a striking 66% decrease in plasma LDL-cholesterol levels. PCN did not affect the cholesterol levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). VLDL-triglyceride levels were 2.2-fold increased by PCN, resulting in the presence of triglyceride-rich VLDL particles. This coincided with a 60% decreased hepatic lipase (HL)-mediated plasma lipolysis rate, which could be attributed to a decrease in the hepatic mRNA expression level of both HL (-31%) and its cofactor apolipoprotein A4 (-62%). In the liver, PCN induced a significant increase in the level of triglycerides (+65%) and phospholipids (+72%), a hallmark of hepatic steatosis, leading to a marked increase in Oil red O neutral lipid staining. A similar effect was noticed in ApoE knockout mice. Our studies show that activation of the nuclear receptor PXR by PCN leads to an inhibition of the plasma HL-mediated lipolysis rate, which is associated with a decrease in plasma LDL-cholesterol levels and induction of hepatic steatosis in LDL receptor knockout mice.