DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors induce macrophage ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux—An LXR-dependent mechanism

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta 2013-06, Vol.1831 (6), p.1134-1145
• Main Authors: Zhang, Ling, Jiang, Meixiu, Shui, Yongsheng, Chen, Yuanli, Wang, Qixue, Hu, Wenquan, Ma, Xingzhe, Li, Xiaoju, Liu, Xin, Cao, Xingyue, Liu, Mengyang, Duan, Yajun, Han, Jihong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ABC transporters; ABCA1; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; Atherosclerosis; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters - genetics; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; cholesterol; Cholesterol - metabolism; DNA topoisomerase (ATP-hydrolysing); drug therapy; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; etoposide; Etoposide - pharmacology; fatty-acid synthase; feces; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; foam cells; Foam Cells - cytology; Foam Cells - drug effects; Foam Cells - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; genes; liver; Liver X Receptors; LXR; Macrophage; Macrophages - cytology; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - metabolism; messenger RNA; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; neoplasms; Orphan Nuclear Receptors - antagonists & inhibitors; Orphan Nuclear Receptors - genetics; Orphan Nuclear Receptors - metabolism; Promoter Regions, Genetic - genetics; protein synthesis; rabbits; Retinoid X Receptors - genetics; Retinoid X Receptors - metabolism; RNA, Small Interfering - genetics; Teniposide - pharmacology; Topo II inhibitor; Topoisomerase II Inhibitors - pharmacology; transcription (genetics)
• ISSN: 1388-1981; 0006-3002; 1879-2618
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2013.02.007

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) facilitates cholesterol efflux and thereby inhibits lipid-laden macrophage/foam cell formation and atherosclerosis. ABCA1 expression is transcriptionally regulated by activation of liver X receptor (LXR). Both etoposide and teniposide are DNA topoisomerase II (Topo II) inhibitors and are chemotherapeutic medications used in the treatment of various cancers. Interestingly, etoposide inhibits atherosclerosis in rabbits by unclear mechanisms. Herein, we report the effects of etoposide and teniposide on macrophage ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux. Both etoposide and teniposide increased macrophage free cholesterol efflux. This increase was associated with increased ABCA1 mRNA and protein expression. Etoposide and teniposide also increased ABCA1 promoter activity in an LXR-dependent manner and formation of the LXRE-LXR/RXR complex indicating that transcriptional induction had occurred. Expression of ABCG1 and fatty acid synthase (FAS), another two LXR-targeted genes, was also induced by etoposide and teniposide. In vivo, administration of mice with either etoposide or teniposide induced macrophage ABCA1 expression and enhanced reverse cholesterol transport from macrophages to feces. Taken together, our study indicates that etoposide and teniposide increase macrophage ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux that may be attributed to the anti-atherogenic properties of etoposide. Our study also describes a new function for Topo II inhibitors in addition to their role in anti-tumorigenesis. •Topo II inhibitor, etoposide, inhibits lesions in rabbits with unclear mechanisms;•Both etoposide and teniposide induced Mϕ ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux;•The induction of ABCA1 expression is LXR-dependent;•We disclose a new function of etoposide and teniposide and the involved mechanism.