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© 2004 The American Society for Nutritional Sciences J. Nutr. 134:2942-2947, November 2004


Biochemical and Molecular Actions of Nutrients

Soy Isoflavones Affect Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins (SREBPs) and SREBP-Regulated Genes in HepG2 Cells1,2

Eimear Mullen*, Rachel M. Brown*, Timothy F. Osborne{dagger} and Neil F. Shay*,3

* Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN and {dagger} Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA

3To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: nshay1{at}nd.edu.


    ABSTRACT
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 
Soy intake reduces cholesterol levels. However, both the identity of the soy component or components that contribute to this reduction and the cellular mechanism producing this reduction are unknown. Soy consists of protein, lipids, fiber, and phytochemicals including isoflavones. We propose that the isoflavone component of soy mediates this effect, at least in part, by affecting cellular sterol homeostasis. We investigated the effects of an isoflavone-containing soy extract and the individual isoflavones on the maturation of the sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBP) and the expression of SRE-regulated genes controlling lipid metabolism. We found a corresponding increase in the mature form of SREBP-2 in both soy extract– and isoflavone-treated HepG2 cells, whereas there was no significant change in the levels of SREBP-1. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase protein and HMG CoA synthase mRNA levels also increased. When HepG2 cells were transiently transfected with HMG CoA synthase and LDL receptor reporter plasmids there was an increase in expression in response to soy extract or isoflavone treatment from both of these promoters, but this induction was blunted in the presence of sterols (P < 0.05). The mechanism responsible for this effect may be via a statin-like inhibition of HMG CoA reductase enzyme activity or by enhanced SREBP processing via the SREBP cleavage activating protein. We hypothesize that maturation of SREBP and induction of SRE-regulated genes produce an increase in surface LDL receptor expression that increases the clearance of plasma cholesterol, thus decreasing plasma cholesterol levels.


KEY WORDS: • soy isoflavones • cardiovascular disease • SREBP • HMG CoA synthase • LDL receptor

High total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels correlate with cardiovascular disease. Elevated cholesterol levels contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and eventually to thrombosis or myocardial infarction. Management of cholesterol levels is an essential part of treating cardiovascular disease. Soy intake has been shown to lower cholesterol levels and thereby reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis. The beneficial effects of soy intake on plasma lipoprotein levels led to FDA approval of a health claim that "25 g of soy a day, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease." This health claim and other media publicity are promoting intake of both soy food products and isoflavone-containing soy supplements. However, the mechanism by which soy exerts its effects is unknown and still a matter of debate.

Soy contains protein, lipids, fiber, and phytochemicals including the isoflavones genistein, daidzein, and glycitein. It is unclear which of the components of soy is the major contributor to the hypocholesterolemic effect or whether different components have hypocholesterolemic effects (14). Prior work investigating isoflavone action focused on the estrogen-like activity of the isoflavones (5,6). However, there is much controversy as to whether this is the mechanism by which soy isoflavones act on lipid metabolism; for example, genistein has relatively low estrogen receptor binding activity (7). Studies also found that the isoflavone component of soy lowers LDL and total cholesterol levels in postmenopausal women (8) and C57BL/6 mice (9). Isoflavones were also shown to increase LDL receptor mRNA in postmenopausal women (8). However, other human diet trials showed no significant effects of isoflavones (1,2).

The LDL receptor is one of a number of genes regulated by the sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs)4 (10). Other genes regulated by the SREBPs include fatty acid synthase (11), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) synthase (12), and HMG CoA reductase (13). There are 3 main isoforms of SREBP encoded by 2 genes. SREBP-1a and SREBP-1c are encoded by a single gene but are produced by differential splicing (14,15). SREBP-1a and -1c are responsible primarily for the regulation of genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis (16). SREBP-2 is encoded on by its own gene and is primarily responsible for the regulation of genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and metabolism (14,15). Each SREBP isoform is synthesized as a ~125-kDa precursor protein. Only when cellular sterol levels are low is SREBP escorted to the Golgi by the SREBP cleavage activating protein (SCAP) (17,18). In the Golgi 2 sequential cleavages occur, releasing the mature N-terminal portion (68 kDa) of SREBP that then translocates to the nucleus and activates transcription of sterol response element (SRE)–containing genes (19). If cellular sterol levels are high, SREBP remains anchored in the endoplasmic reticulum and there is no upregulation of SRE-containing genes (20,21).

Because SREBPs are critical for the regulation of intracellular sterol and lipid homoeostasis, we examined the effects of isoflavone-containing soy extract and individual isoflavones on SREBP levels and maturation as well as their effects on the SRE-regulated genes HMG CoA synthase, HMG CoA reductase, and the LDL receptor. Understanding the metabolic effects of the various components of soy is an important goal to help guide or design the modification of cholesterol-lowering soyfoods or dietary supplements.


    MATERIALS AND METHODS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 
    Materials. Cholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, genistein, daidzein, glycitein, and mevalonic acid were all obtained from Sigma and atorvastatin was obtained from Pfizer. Sodium mevalonate was prepared as previously described (22). Soy extract containing unconjugated soy isoflavones (g-2535) was obtained from Solae. The soy extract used was produced by ethanol extraction and contains 40% genestein, 18% daidzein, and 1% glycitein. Anti-SREBP-2 mouse monoclonal IgG1 was purchased from BD Biosciences (Cat. No. 557037) and anti-HMG CoA reductase rabbit polyclonal IgG was purchased from Upstate Biotechnology (Cat. No. 07–547). All secondary antibodies were purchased from Santa Cruz Biotechnology.

    Cell culture. HepG2 cells were obtained from American Tissue Culture Collection (HB-8065). They were maintained in minimum essential medium (MEM) containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (Invitrogen) and 1% antibiotic/antimycotic (Invitrogen) at 37°C and 5% CO2. For experiments on d 0, 8.5 x 105 cells/well were plated in 6-well dishes. On d 1 the medium was changed to serum-free medium with antibiotics. On d 2, cells were treated with vehicle, 1 µmol/L atorvastatin, 25 µmol/L cholesterol + 2.5 µmol/L 25-hydroxycholesterol, 10 g/L soy extract, 20 µmol/L genistein, and 20 µmol/L daidzein. Following a 24-h incubation cell protein was isolated using mammalian protein extraction reagent (M-PER, Pierce) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Total RNA was isolated using a RNeasy kit (Qiagen) according to the manufacturer’s protocol.

    Immunoblotting. Protein concentrations were determined using DC protein assay reagents (Bio-Rad) according to the manufacturer’s protocol in 96-well plates. Proteins were size-separated on 10% polyacrylamide:0.1% (w:v) SDS minigels together with prestained molecular weight markers (Pierce). Proteins were transferred to polyvinylidene fluoride membrane (Osmonics) at 495 mA for 1 h using a minitransblot system (Bio-Rad). Immunoblot analyses were performed using antibodies to SREBP-1 and SREBP-2 to detect the mature 68-kDa form. Immunoblot analysis was also performed for HMG CoA reductase. Antibodies were diluted in Tris-buffered saline/0.1% Tween 20 containing 5% nonfat dry milk. All appropriate secondary antibodies used were conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. Antibody complexes were visualized using ECL+ reagent (Amersham Biosciences) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Immunoblots were exposed to Kodak BioMAX film and developed. The chemiluminescent signal was removed by treating membranes with 2% (w:v) SDS, 62.5 mmol/L Tris-Cl, pH 6.8, and 100 mmol/L 2-mercaptoethanol for 30 min at 55°C, prior to a second round of immunoblotting. Equal loading was confirmed using anti-tubulin antibody (Sigma, Cat. No. T-9026). Experiments were replicated at least 5 times and a representative blot is shown.

    Northern blotting. RNA concentration was calculated by spectrophotometry (BIORAD, Smartspec 3000). Total RNA (15 µg) was size-separated on a 1% agarose-formaldehyde gel and transferred to a Hybond N+ nylon membrane (Amersham Biosciences). RNA was isolated from HepG2 cells and an RT-PCR reaction (Superscript RT-PCR, Invitrogen) was performed to generate a HMG CoA synthase cDNA. The forward primer used was 5'GAAGTTGGAACAGAGACAATCATCG-3' and the the reverse primer used was 5'-GGAAGTCATTCAGCAACATCCG-3'. The resulting PCR fragment generated was cloned into a TOPO TA sequencing vector (Invitrogen) and the DNA sequence was confirmed. The probe was labeled with 32P (Rediprime, Amersham) and purified (Nuc-trap probe purification columns, Stratagene) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. The probe was then hybridized overnight in 1–10 x 106 cpm/ml probe at 65°C. After hybridization, the blots were washed and exposed to Kodak BioMAX film. The blots were rehybridized with a probe to the 18S RNA to verify RNA content. Experiments were replicated at least 5 times and a typical blot is shown.

    Plasmids and transient transfection assays. The pSynSRE and LDL-t-Luc plasmids were previously described (23,24). The pSV ß-galactosidase (ß-gal) vector was purchased from Promega. On d 0, HepG2 cells were plated in 24-well dishes at a density of 2 x 105 cells/well in MEM containing FBS without antibiotic/antimycotic. On d 1, cells were transfected with Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Six hundred nanograms of either pSynSRE or LDL-t-luc and 0.4 µg of pSV ß-galactosidase were transfected into the cells. After 6–8 h the medium was removed and changed to serum-free MEM containing 1% antibiotic/antimycotic. On d 2 the cells are treated with vehicle, 1 µmol/L atorvastatin, 25 µmol/L cholesterol + 2.5 µmol/L 25-hydroxycholesterol, 10 g/L soy extract, 20 µmol/L genistein, 20 µmol/L daidzein, and 20 µmol/L glycitein. For mevalonate experiments cells were treated with 100 µmol/L to 1 mmol/L sodium mevalonate. After 24 h, cell lysates were obtained using 1x reporter lysis buffer (Promega) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Cell lysates were analyzed for SRE-directed luciferase and ß-gal activities.

    Statistics. Results of transfection experiments are calculated as luciferase/ß-gal and are expressed as means ± SEM, n = 3 per experiment. Vehicle is defined as control (100%) and results are expressed as a percentage of control. A one-way ANOVA was carried out to test for statistical significance. Tukey’s test was used for pairwise analysis of treatment groups. Means without a common letter differ (P < 0.05).

    LDL uptake. HepG2 cells were plated on glass coverslips in 6-well dishes (~7 x 105 cells/well) and grown for 48 h in complete MEM. Cells were then washed in PBS and incubated with serum-free medium for 24 h. Cells were incubated for 20 h with vehicle, 25 µmol/L cholesterol + 2.5 µmol/L 25-hydroxycholesterol, or 6 mg/L (20 µmol/L) genestein. Fluorescently labeled DiI-LDL (10 mg/L, Biomedical Technologies) was then added to the treatment mixture for 4 h. Cells were subsequently washed twice with PBS for 5 min and fixed to coverslips with fixative solution (11% formaldehyde, ddH2O, 10x PBS, Triton X) for 10 min. Coverslips were air dried and mounted on slides with Vectashield (Vector Laboratories). Analysis was carried out using confocal microscopy (Nikon, Diaphot 200). This experiment was carried out 3 separate times.


    RESULTS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 
To examine the effects of soy isoflavones on sterol regulation, HepG2 cells were initially maintained in serum-free medium for 24 h to produce a reduced-sterol environment. The cells were then treated for 24 h with vehicle, 1 µmol/L atorvastatin, 25 µmol/L cholesterol + 2.5 µmol/L 25-hydroxycholesterol, 10 g/L isoflavone-containing soy extract, 20 µmol/L genistein, 20 µmol/L daidzein, and 20 µmol/L glycitein. Atorvastatin, an inhibitor of HMG CoA reductase, was used to further reduce cellular sterol levels and increase mature SREBP-2 protein levels (Fig. 1). Cholesterol and 25-hydroxycholesterol were used to increase cellular sterol levels; this treatment repressed levels of SREBP-2 protein. Soy extract and the individual isoflavones caused the mature nuclear form of SREBP-2 to increase (Fig. 1a) but we found no increase in SREBP-1 (results not shown).



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FIGURE 1 Immunoblot and Northern analysis of SREBP and SRE-regulated genes in soy extract–and isoflavone-treated HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were plated in 6-well dishes (~850,000 cells per well) using MEM containing 10% FBS and antibiotics. The following day, the medium was changed to serum-free medium. After an additional 24 h, cells were treated for 24 h with 50:50 ethanol:DMSO vehicle (veh), 1 µmol/L atorvastatin (stat), 25 µmol/L cholesterol + 2.5 µmol/L 25-hydroxycholesterol (sterol), 10 mg/L soy extract (SE), and 20 µmol/L genistein. (a, b) Protein was isolated using M-Per reagent and analyzed by Western blot using mouse anti-SREBP-2 or rabbit anti-HMG CoA reductase IgG. Mouse anti-tubulin was used to control for equal loading. (c) Total RNA was isolated using RNeasy (Qiagen) and analyzed by Northern analysis using a probe against HMG CoA synthase. The figure is representative of 5 independent trials.

 
Given the notable increase in the mature form of SREBP-2 accompanying isoflavone treatment, we predicted a subsequent increase in the expression of SREBP-2-regulated proteins such as HMG CoA reductase. To investigate the effects of soy isoflavones on this protein, cells were treated for 24 h with vehicle (low-sterol), statin, cholesterol + 25-hydroxycholesterol, soy extract, daidzein, and genistein. Consistent with SREBP-2 expression, sterol-free, statin, soy extract, daidzein, and genestein treatment increased the levels of HMG CoA reductase (Fig. 1b).

To examine the effects of soy extract and the individual isoflavones on the expression of mRNAs regulated by the SREBPs, total RNA was isolated from HepG2 cells following cell treatments identical to those used in Fig. 1a and b, and a Northern blot analysis was performed. In concert with the results in Fig. 1a and b sterol-free, atorvastatin, soy extract, and individual isoflavone treatments increased HMG CoA synthase mRNA levels (Fig. 1c).

Because the levels of SREBP-2- and SREBP-regulated genes increase after exposure to isoflavone-containing soy extract or isoflavones, we wished to examine whether these effects were mediated by SRE control. To this end, HepG2 cells were transfected with SRE-regulated luciferase reporter constructs derived from the HMG CoA synthase (pSynSRE) or the LDL receptor promoters (LDL-t-Luc). When transfected cells were treated with increasing concentrations of soy extract, we observed a dose-dependent increase in SRE-regulated luciferase activity. Consistently, when treated with 5 or 10 mg/L soy extract (total isoflavone concentration ~12–24 µmol/L), luciferase activity was well above that of 1 µmol/L atorvastatin and roughly equivalent effects were produced by 1 µmol/L atorvastatin and 1 mg/L soy extract (Fig. 2). This relationship was consistently observed throughout our studies. We examined the effects of the individual isoflavones on SRE-regulated expression from both the HMG CoA synthase (Fig. 3a) and the LDL receptor (Fig. 3b) promoters. Both genistein and daidzein robustly induced luciferase expression from both promoters whereas glycitein did not induce to any appreciable level. These data prompted us to discontinue evaluation of glycitein in our studies. Taken together, the data in Figs. 1 through 3 provide a compelling case for isoflavone-enhanced SREBP-2 maturation and SREBP-2-regulated gene expression via sterol regulatory elements. Although they are provided as one set of representative experiments (Figs. 123), these data are entirely consistent with over 30 independent experiments we completed using HepG2 cells.



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FIGURE 2 Effects of isoflavone-containing soy extract on SRE-directed gene expression. HepG2 cells were plated on a 24 well plate (200,000 cells/well) and transfected using Lipofectamine 2000 with 0.6 µg pSynSRE and 0.4 µg ß-Gal plasmids following the manufacturer’s protocol. Cells were subsequently treated for 24 h with veh, stat, sterol, and between 0.5 and 10 mg/L SE. Cells extracts were analyzed for SRE-directed luciferase activity and ß-gal activity to control for transfection efficiency. Results are expressed as luciferase/ß-gal. Values are means ± SEM, n = 3 for each experiment. Each experiment was carried out at least 5 times. Veh is defined as control (100%) and results are expressed as a percentage of control. Means without a common letter differ (P < 0.05).

 


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FIGURE 3 Effect of isoflavone-containing soy extract and individual isoflavones on SRE-directed gene expression. HepG2 cells were transfected with (a) pSynSRE or (b) LDL-t-Luc (0.6 µg) and ß-gal (0.4 µg) plasmids as in Fig. 2. After transfection, cells were treated for 24 h with veh, 1 µmol/L stat, 25 µmol/L cholesterol + 2.5 µmol/L sterol, 10 mg/L SE, 20 µmol/L genistein (gen), 20 µmol/L daidzein (daid), and 20 µmol/L glycitein (gly). Cells lysates were analyzed as previously described for Fig. 2. The figure is representative of 5 independent experiments. Means without a common letter differ (P < 0.05).

 
To examine the interactions of soy isoflavones, cholesterol, and the statins, we treated pSynSRE-transfected cells with a combination of isoflavone-containing soy extract or isoflavones, sterols, and atorvastatin (Fig. 4). The HMG CoA synthase promoter activity was blunted (P < 0.05) when isoflavone-containing soy extract– or isoflavone-treated cells were cotreated with sterols. These effects of isoflavones were also negated by sterols in the presence of atorvastatin. Cotreatment of transfected cells with atorvastatin and soy extract or isoflavones, either of which produces an induction of SREBPs and SRE-regulated genes, did not lead to an additive effect in HMG CoA synthase promoter activity. To further investigate the effects of sterols on isoflavone-mediated induction of SRE-regulated expression, pSynSRE-transfected cells were treated with genistein or daidzein and cotreated with increasing amounts of sterols. We observed a dose-dependent decrease in the expression from the HMG CoA synthase promoter (Fig. 5), indicating that sterols substantially decrease the effects of isoflavones.



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FIGURE 4 The effects of combinations of soy isoflavones, sterols, and statins on SRE-directed gene expression. HepG2 cells were plated (200,000 cells/well) and transfected with pSynSRE and ß-gal as described previously. After transfection, cells were treated for 24 h with veh,) 1 µmol/L stat, sterol, and 10 mg/L SE and 20 µmol/L of each of gen or daid alone or in combination as indicated. Cells lysates were analyzed as previously described. The figure is representative of 5 independent experiments. Means without a common letter differ (P < 0.05).

 


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FIGURE 5 Sterol concentrations attenuate isoflavone-induced SRE-directed gene expression. HepG2 cells were with pSynSRE (0.6 µg)and ß-gal (0.4 µg) as before. After transfection cells were treated for 24 h with veh, 1 µmol/L stat, increasing doses of cholesterol + 25-hydroxycholesterol from 0.1 to 10 mg/L (closed triangles indicate increasing concentrations of cholesterol), 10 mg/L SE, 20 µmol/L gen, and 20 µmol/L daid. Cells lysates were analyzed as previously described. The figure is representative of 5 independent experiments. Means without a common letter differ (P < 0.05).

 
We then proposed that the observed isoflavone-mediated upregulation of SREBP- and SRE-regulated genes causes an increase in surface expression of the LDL receptor and LDL uptake. To investigate whether this was the case in our cell culture model, cells treated with vehicle, cholesterol, and genestein were treated with fluorescently labeled (DiI-LDL) LDL molecules for 4 h and the uptake of LDL was measured by confocal microscopy. The amount of intracellular LDL visible in genistein-treated cells is higher than that visible in vehicle- and cholesterol-treated cells (Fig. 6), suggesting that an increase in SRE-directed gene expression leads to an increase in surface LDL receptor expression and LDL receptor–mediated uptake.



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FIGURE 6 LDL uptake in genistein-treated HepG2 cells. Cells were plated on glass coverslips in 6-well dishes (~700,000 cells/well) and grown for 48 h in complete MEM. Cells were then washed in PBS and incubated with serum-free mediun for 24 h. Cells were incubated for 20 h with veh, sterol, or 20 µmol/L gen. DiI-LDL (10 mg/L) was then added to each well and the wells were further incubated for 4 h. Cells were washed twice with PBS for 5 min and fixed to coverslips with fixative solution for 10 min. Coverslips were air dried and mounted on slides with Vectashield (Vector Laboratories). Analysis was carried out by confocal microscopy.

 
We hypothesize that there are at least 2 potential mechanisms by which soy isoflavones induce SREBPs and SRE-regulated genes. Isoflavones could have a statin-like effect, inhibiting the activity of the HMG CoA reductase enzyme, decreasing the concentration of intracellular sterols, and thus increasing the proteolytic processing of SREBP and the upregulation of SREBP-regulated genes. Alternatively, isoflavones may directly upregulate the processing of SREBP, perhaps by interacting with the SCAP, a key regulatory protein involved in the processing of SREBP (Fig. 7). To discriminate between these 2 possible mechanisms, pSynSRE-transfected HepG2 cells were treated with increasing doses of mevalonate with or without atorvastatin and isoflavone-containing soy extract. Mevalonate is the metabolic product of the HMG CoA reductase–mediated reaction in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. If cells are supplied with mevalonate, cholesterol synthesis will continue regardless of HMG CoA reductase activity. As cholesterol synthesis continues, SREBP processing will be reduced and will be observed as decreased SRE-directed gene expression. Treatment with mevalonate with or without atorvastatin should have a similar effect because mevalonate supplementation bypasses the metabolic block caused by atorvastatin. If when cells are treated with mevalonate and soy extract or isoflavones we see an effect similar to that seen when cells are treated with mevalonate alone or mevalonate plus atorvastatin, we could propose that soy isoflavones act by inhibiting HMG CoA reductase enzyme activity. If there is no reduction in SREBP regulated gene expression after cotreatment with isoflavone-containing soy extract or isoflavones plus mevalonate, we can propose that isoflavones act more directly on SREBP processing. After pSynSRE-transfected cells were cotreated with mevalonate plus isoflavone-containing soy extract, there was a decrease in SRE-directed gene expression but this reduction was not as great as that mediated by treatment with mevalonate alone or with mevalonate and atorvastatin (Fig. 8).



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FIGURE 7 Potential mechanisms of action of soy isoflavones on sterol homeostasis. Treatment of HepG2 cells with isoflavones enhances SREBP proteolysis, detected by immunoblotting for the mature form of the SREBP protein. All data are consistent with enhanced levels of mature SREBP-2 (Figs. 23456). Soy isoflavones may affect SREBPs by inhibiting the activity of HMG CoA reductase or other enzymes in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Alternatively, our results are also consistent with an activity of soy isoflavones that enhances SREBP maturation via the SCAP.

 


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FIGURE 8 Effect of mevalonate on SRE-regulated gene expression. HepG2 cells were plated and transfected with pSynSRE and ß-galactosidase as previously described. After transfection, cells were treated for 24 h with veh, 1 µmol/L stat, 25 µmol/L cholesterol + 2.5 µmol/L 25-hydroxycholesterol, and 10 mg/L SE and 100 µmol/L, 500 µmol/L, and 1mmol/L mevalonate (Mev) (closed triangles indicate increasing concentrations of mev). Cells lysates were analyzed as previously described. The figure is representative of 5 independent experiments. Means without a common letter differ (P < 0.05).

 

    DISCUSSION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 
We hypothesize that the hypocholesterolemic effects of soy are mediated at least in part by the isoflavones and they affect the maturation of the SREBPs and thus alter the expression of SRE-regulated genes. We have found that in HepG2 cells, isoflavone-containing soy extract and individual isoflavones increase the mature form of SREBP-2 (Fig. 1a). SREBP-1 was not substantially upregulated, indicating that isoflavones may regulate primarily the genes of cholesterol rather than fatty acid biosynthesis (1315). Exposure to isoflavones increased HMG CoA reductase protein levels (Fig. 1b) and HMG CoA synthase mRNA levels (Fig. 1c) and increased both HMG CoA synthase and LDL receptor promoter activity (Figs. 2and 3). These SRE-regulated genes are all coordinately regulated by SREBP-2 and involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and homeostasis. The induction of SREBP-regulated genes increases intracellular sterol levels through both biosynthesis and receptor-mediated uptake. Enhanced uptake of LDL via the LDL receptor should increase clearance of plasma cholesterol in vivo (25). In our cell culture model we show that genistein-treated cells have increased LDL uptake in comparison to vehicle- or cholesterol-treated cells (Fig. 6), indicating that there is indeed increased surface LDL receptor expression or activity.

Soy extract and isoflavones consistently induced SREBP-2 regulated gene expression over that of atorvastatin, although on a molar basis the concentration of isoflavones used was well above that of atorvastatin. Glycitein did not significantly induce SREBPs and SRE-regulated gene expression in our studies. This may be due to the presence of a methoxy-group on glycitein that is not present on the other isoflavones or reduced cellular uptake of glycitein. The negative effect of glycitein prompted us to discontinue further evaluation of glycitein.

The effects of isoflavones on SRE-directed gene expression have not been well characterized. Recently, hepatic SREBP-1 expression in rats provided with soy protein was evaluated (26). The LDL receptor has been measured in several studies (2729) but it is unclear whether changes in LDL receptor levels are caused by a direct action of soy isoflavones or affected indirectly by the lipid-lowering effect of soy intake. Short-term in vivo studies may help clarify this question. In our cell culture model in order for isoflavones to exert their effect on SREBP maturation and signaling sterols must be present at low levels. We showed that increased levels of cholesterol decrease the effectiveness of isoflavones in inducing the expression of SREBP-regulated genes. Because sterols decrease the expression of SREBP and SRE-regulated genes, increasing the amount of sterols should decrease the levels of expression of these genes. Therefore, if intake of sterols is low we hypothesize that isoflavones will increase SREBP and SRE-regulated genes and thereby decrease already high cholesterol levels. However, it remains to be determined in vivo whether high dietary cholesterol will lead to an increase in SREBP and SRE-regulated genes.

We hypothesize that there are at least two different mechanisms by which isoflavone-containing soy extract and individual isoflavones may induce SREBP-regulated gene expression in HepG2 cells. Isoflavones may inhibit HMG CoA reductase enzyme activity with a statin-like effect. The S-alkenyl cysteines of garlic exert a hypocholesterolemic effect by inhibiting HMG CoA reductase activity (30). It was also shown that phosphorylation of HMG CoA reductase at serine 871 by AMP-activated protein kinase decreases enzyme activity (31). Recently it was shown that isoflavones are weak inhibitors of HMG CoA reductase but with a much higher Ki value than the statins (32). However, the manner by which HMG CoA reductase is inhibited was not proposed and it is possible that isoflavones may decrease HMG CoA reductase levels by altering its phosphorylation. Alternatively, isoflavones could exert their effects directly on the maturation of SREBP, perhaps by acting as ligands of the SCAP. The steroid-like analogue GW707 and the nonsteroidal molecules GW300, GW532, and GW575 have been shown to be ligands of SCAP that upregulate the expression of the LDL receptor and the mature forms of both SREBP-1 and -2 in a similar fashion as we showed for the isoflavones (33). Our subsequent investigations did not rule out either of these mechanisms (Figs. 6and 7). Although we did observe a decrease in SRE-regulated gene expression when cells were cotreated with mevalonate and soy extract, the reduction was not to the same degree as that observed when cells were treated with mevalonate alone or cotreated with mevalonate and atorvastatin (Fig. 7). Mevalonate alone and mevalonate plus atorvastatin decreased SRE-directed gene expression 80% whereas mevalonate plus soy extract reduced expression by only 50%. These data suggest that both mechanisms may be involved.

We also recognize that isoflavones may affect other pathways involved in lipid and sterol metabolism. It was recently shown that soy isoflavones induce peroxisome proliferator activator receptor (PPAR)–regulated gene expression (34,35). PPARs are involved in fatty acid catabolism, adipocyte differentiation, and insulin sensitization. Because sterols are now understood to regulate via several different mechanisms, including action as both a SCAP ligand and agonist of the liver-X-receptor (LXR), it is entirely possible that isoflavones act on multiple pathways as well. It remains to be determined whether in vivo effects of soy intake are mediated mainly by isoflavones or another soy component. In vivo evaluation of isoflavones as agonists of SRE- and PPAR-regulated gene expression will help determine whether isoflavones contribute to the hypolipidemic effect of soy intake and which pathway or pathways are most important.


    FOOTNOTES
 
1 Data were previously presented in part at Experimental Biology 2003, San Diego, CA [Mullen, E. & Shay, N. (2003) Soy isoflavones induce SRE-directed gene expression in HepG2 cells. FASEB J. 17: A332, 203.1] and at Experimental Biology 2004, Washington, DC [Mullen, E. & Shay, N. (2004) The interaction of soy isoflavones and sterols in SREBP signaling. FASEB J. 18: A383, 273.3]. Back

2 Supported by NIH AT000862 and The Solae Company. Back

4 Abbreviations used: ß-gal, ß-galactosidase; daid, daidzein; gen, genistein; fetal bovine serum, FBS; HMG CoA, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A; MEM, minimum essential medium; mev, mevalonate; M-PER, mammalian protein extraction reagent; PPAR, peroxisome proliferators activator receptor; SCAP, sterol regulatory element binding protein cleavage activating protein; SE, soy extract; SRE, sterol regulatory element; SREBP, sterol regulatory element binding protein; stat, statin; sterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol; veh, vehicle. Back

Manuscript received 28 June 2004. Initial review completed 20 July 2004. Revision accepted 20 August 2004.


    LITERATURE CITED
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 

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