Evidence for the formation of 26-hydroxycholesterol by cytochrome P-450 in pig kidney mitochondria

27-Oxygenation of C27-sterols and 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D3 in kidney: cloning, structure and expression of pig kidney CYP27A

This paper describes the molecular cloning of a cytochrome P450 enzyme in pig kidney that catalyses the hydroxylations of vitamin D(3) (cholecalciferol) and C(27)-sterols. DNA sequence analysis of the cDNA revealed that the enzyme belongs to the CYP27 family. The first 36 amino acids have many hallmarks of a mitochondrial signal sequence. The mature pig kidney CYP27 protein contains 498 amino acids. The M(r) of the mature protein was calculated to be 56607. The structure of pig kidney CYP27, as deduced by DNA sequence analysis, shows 77-83% identity with CYP27A in rat, rabbit and human liver. Transfection of the renal CYP27A cDNA into simian COS cells resulted in the synthesis of an enzyme that catalysed the 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D(3) and the 27-hydroxylation of 5beta-cholestane-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-triol, and the further oxidation of the product into the corresponding C(27)-acid 3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-trihydroxy-5beta-cholestanoic acid. As part of these studies, the enzymic activities of cultured human embryonic kidney cells were examined using vitamin D(3) and C(27)-sterols as substrates. The cells were found to express CYP27A mRNA and to convert the respective substrates into the same products as recombinantly expressed CYP27A, i.e. 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) and 27-oxygenated C(27)-sterols. The results of the present study describing the structure and expression of CYP27A in kidney suggest that this enzyme is involved in the renal metabolism of vitamin D(3) and that the kidney plays a role in the metabolism of cholesterol and other C(27)-sterols.

Effect of dietary lipids on hepatic and extrahepatic sterol 27-hydroxylase activity in high- and low-responding baboons

Our previous studies found that low low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-responding baboons compared with high LDL-responding baboons have higher hepatic sterol 27-hydroxylase activity when consuming a high-cholesterol and high-fat (HCHF) diet. The present studies were conducted to determine whether the extrahepatic activity of sterol 27-hydroxylase is also higher in low-responding baboons and to assess whether the enzyme is regulated at the protein level. We measured the hepatic sterol 27-hydroxylase activity and protein level and plasma 27-hydroxycholesterol concentration in six low- and six high-responding baboons on both the basal and the HCHF diet. We also compared the sterol 27-hydroxylase activity in the adrenal gland and 27-hydroxycholesterol concentration in blood lymphocytes from high- and low-responding baboons consuming the HCHF diet. With the HCHF diet, the plasma 27-hydroxycholesterol concentration and hepatic sterol 27-hydroxylase activity and protein level increased rapidly in low responders, but not in high responders. Blood lymphocytes of low-responding baboons cultured in the presence of lipoprotein-deficient serum (LPDS) had lower cholesterol concentrations than those from high-responding baboons. Addition of exogenous 27-hydroxycholesterol to the culture medium of blood lymphocytes decreased the cellular cholesterol concentration. Plasma 27-hydroxycholesterol and hepatic sterol 27-hydroxylase activity and protein levels were negatively correlated with the plasma VLDL + LDL cholesterol concentration and VLDL + LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio after 6 weeks on the HCHF diet, but not on the chow diet. The results suggest that sterol 27-hydroxylase activity in both hepatic and extrahepatic tissues attenuates the dietary responsiveness in baboons, and the enzyme activity is not regulated by the specific activity of the protein.

Review of progress in sterol oxidations: 1987-1995

Material dealing with the chemistry, biochemistry, and biological activities of oxysterols is reviewed for the period 1987-1995. Particular attention is paid to the presence of oxysterols in tissues and foods and to their physiological relevance.

Peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands in rat liver mitochondria: effect on 27-hydroxylation of cholesterol

The effect of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands: PK11195 (1-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-N-(1-methylpropyl)isoquinoline-3-carboxamid e), Ro 5-4864 (4-chlorodiazepam), hemin, N-methyl protoporphyrin IX and protoporphyrin IX on liver mitochondrial 27-hydroxylation of cholesterol was studied by adding them together with [4-14C]cholesterol. N-Methyl protoporphyrin IX, PK11195 and protoporphyrin IX stimulated mitochondrial 27-hydroxylation of [4-14C] cholesterol in vitro, the first two being the most potent (2-3-fold increase). Ro 5-4864 and hemin were not active. 27-Hydroxylation of [4-14C]cholesterol was reduced to below control levels (respectively 40 and 56% decrease compared to control, P < 0.01) when PK11195, N-methyl protoporphyrin IX or protoporphyrin IX were allowed to equilibrate in vitro with mitochondria for 20 min at 37 degrees C. Hepatic protoporphyria was induced using 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) (100 mg/kg, i.p.) to study the effect of in vivo accumulation of large amounts of dicarboxylic porphyrins, i.e. endogenous peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands, on cholesterol 27-hydroxylation. DDC treatment caused an increase in total porphyrin content in liver homogenate (10-fold) and mitochondria (2-fold). Mitochondrial 27-hydroxylation of [4-14C]cholesterol was depressed after treatment (60% decrease, P < 0.01). We suggest that peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands act on liver mitochondrial 27-hydroxylation of cholesterol by a mechanism coupled to these receptors and that the time of exposure of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors to ligands is a major factor. The modulation of 27-hydroxycholesterol production may have a physiological role in liver and possibly in other tissues.

Atherosclerosis and sterol 27-hydroxylase: evidence for a role of this enzyme in elimination of cholesterol from human macrophages

27-Hydroxycholesterol was found in surprisingly high amounts in atherosclerotic human femoral arteries. When human macrophages were cultured in a medium containing serum, there was a significant transfer of 27-hydroxy-cholesterol and 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholestenoic acid from the cells into the medium. Sterol 27-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.13.15) is likely to be responsible for formation of the two products as shown by use of immunoblotting, a specific inhibitor, and the 18O-labeling technique. Sterol 27-hydroxylase has the unusual ability to hydroxylate the same methyl group three times to give a carboxylic acid; thus, 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholestenoic acid is likely to be a direct product of the enzyme. The production of these steroids increased after addition of cholesterol to the culture medium. By using deuterium-labeled cholesterol, it was ascertained that most of the oxidized products were formed from exogenous cholesterol taken up by the cells. 27-Hydroxycholesterol and 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholestenoic acid are present in the circulation and are efficiently converted into bile acids in human liver. It is suggested that conversion of cholesterol into 27-hydroxycholesterol and 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholestenoic acid represents a general defence mechanism for macrophages and possibly also other peripheral cells exposed to cholesterol. Absence of this defence mechanism may contribute to the premature atherosclerosis known to occur in patients with sterol 27-hydroxylase deficiency (cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis).

Characterization of mitochondrial cytochromes P-450 from pig kidney and liver catalysing 26-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and C27 steroids

The properties of cytochrome P-450 from pig kidney mitochondria, catalysing 26-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and C27 steroids [Postlind & Wikvall (1989) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 159, 1135-1140; Postlind (1990) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 168, 261-266], were compared with those of a 26-hydroxylating cytochrome P-450 from pig liver mitochondria. The liver enzyme was purified to a cytochrome P-450 content of 7.4 nmol/mg of protein and showed only one protein band with an apparent Mr of 53,000 upon SDS/PAGE. The cytochrome P-450 catalysed 26-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, cholesterol and 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha, 7 alpha-diol at rates of 361, 1090 and 2065 pmol/min per nmol of cytochrome P-450. A monoclonal antibody against the purified liver mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 26-hydroxylase (cytochrome P-450(26] was prepared. After coupling to Sepharose, the antibody was able to bind to cytochrome P-450(26) from liver as well as from kidney mitochondria and to immunoprecipitate the 26-hydroxylase activity towards 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and cholesterol when assayed in a reconstituted system. After SDS/PAGE and immunoblotting with the antibody, the cytochrome P-450(26) was detected in the purified liver and kidney preparations. These results indicate that similar species of cytochrome P-450 catalyse 26-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and C27 steroids in liver and kidney mitochondria. The results with the monoclonal antibody together with the finding that cholesterol competitively inhibits the 26-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 further indicate that 26-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and cholesterol is catalysed by the same species of cytochrome P-450 in each tissue. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of cytochrome P-450(26) in kidney mitochondria resembled that of pig kidney microsomal 25-hydroxylase active in 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D3 and C27 steroids, whereas the sequence of pig liver mitochondrial cytochrome P-450(26) differed from those of rabbit and rat liver mitochondrial 26-hydroxylases as well as from those of other hitherto isolated mammalian cytochromes P-450.

A cDNA encoding a rat mitochondrial cytochrome P450 catalyzing both the 26-hydroxylation of cholesterol and 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D3: gonadotropic regulation of the cognate mRNA in ovaries

A cDNA expression library prepared from rat liver RNA was screened with a polyclonal antibody specific for mitochondrial vitamin D3 25-hydroxylase and a cDNA for rabbit liver mitochondrial cytochrome P450c26 (CYP 26), yielding cDNA clones with identical sequences. The deduced amino acid sequence derived from a 1.9-kb full-length cDNA was 73% identical to that of rabbit cytochrome P450c26. A monoclonal antibody was used to demonstrate that the product of the 1.9-kb cDNA clone was targeted to the mitochondrial compartment when expressed in COS cells. Mitochondrial membranes containing the expressed protein showed both vitamin D3 25-hydroxylase and cholesterol 26-hydroxylase activities when reconstituted with ferredoxin reductase and ferredoxin, demonstrating that the same P450, designated as P450c26/25, can catalyze both reactions. Northern blot analysis revealed that the P450c26/25 cDNA hybridizes with a 2.4-kb RNA from rat liver and unstimulated ovaries. Treatment of rats with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin resulted in a fivefold increase in the 2.4-kb mRNA as well as the appearance of a 2.1-kb mRNA species in the ovaries. Our findings document the presence of a regulated bifunctional mitochondrial cytochrome P450 capable of catalyzing the 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D3 and the 26-hydroxylation of cholesterol.

Separation of the cytochromes P-450 in pig kidney mitochondria catalyzing 1 alpha-, 24- and 26-hydroxylations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3

The cytochromes P-450 in pig kidney mitochondria catalyzing 1 alpha-, 24- and 26-hydroxylations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 have been separated. The cytochrome P-450 fractions required NADPH, mitochondrial ferredoxin and ferredoxin reductase for catalytic activity. The present report demonstrates that different forms of cytochrome P-450 are involved in 1 alpha-, 24- and 26-hydroxylations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and provides a basis for further purification and characterization of these enzymes.