HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) activate expression of PPARalpha/PPARgamma and ABCA1 in cultured gallbladder epithelial cells.

In gallbladder epithelial cells (GBEC), PPARalpha and PPARgamma ligands modulate inflammation by suppression of TNFalpha production and prevent excessive accumulation of cholesterol by ABCA1 activation. Recently, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) were shown to activate PPARalpha and PPARgamma in various cells but no studies of their effects in GBEC have been conducted. The objective of this study was, therefore, to determine the effects of statins on PPAR and ABCA1 expression and the anti-inflammatory effect of statins in GBEC. Canine GBEC were cultured on Petri dishes. Expression of the proteins PPARalpha, PPARgamma, and ABCA1 was measured by western blotting analysis after treatment with simvastatin, pravastatin, NO-pravastatin, PPARalpha ligand, or PPARgamma ligand in the culture media. Expression of ABCA1 and LXRalpha mRNAs was estimated by RT-PCR. Expression of TNFalpha mRNA was measured by RT-PCR after 24 h pre-treatment with the statins, preceding 1 h of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) loading. Simvastatin, pravastatin, and NO-pravastatin increased expression of the proteins PPARalpha, PPARgamma, and ABCA1, and expression of the mRNA of ABCA1 and LXRalpha in GBEC. Pre-treatment with simvastatin, pravastatin, and NO-pravastatin suppressed the production of TNFalpha mRNA induced by LPS. In conclusion, statins probably contribute to the preservation of GBEC function by activation of PPARalpha and PPARgamma, which have anti-inflammatory effects by suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and ABCA1 activation mediated by LXRalpha, which prevents the accumulation of cholesterol in GBEC.