Both the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ agonist, GW0742, and ezetimibe promote reverse cholesterol transport in mice by reducing intestinal reabsorption of HDL-Derived cholesterol

Abstract

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) agonism increases HDL cholesterol and has therefore the potential to stimulate macrophage-to-feces reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). To test whether PPAR™ activation promotes RCT in mice, in vivo macrophage RCT was assessed using cholesterol-loaded/3H-cholesterol-labeled macrophages injected intraperitoneally. PPAR™ agonist GW0742 (10 mg/kg per day) did not change 3H-tracer plasma appearance, but increased fecal 3 H-free sterols excretion by 103% (p < 0.005) over 48 hours. Total free cholesterol efflux from macrophages to serum (collected from both control and GW0742 groups) was not different, although ABCA1-mediated efflux was significantly higher with GW0742. The metabolic fate of HDL labeled with 3H-cholesteryl ether or 33H-cholesteryl oleate was also measured. While 3H-cholesteryl ether tissue uptake was unchanged, the 3H-tracer recovered in fecal free sterol fraction after 3H-cholesteryl oleate injection increased by 88% with GW0742 (p < 0.0005). This was associated with a lower Niemann-Pick C1 like 1 (NPC1L1) mRNA expression in the small intestine (p < 0.05). The same experiments in mice treated with ezetimibe, which blocks NPC1L1, showed a similar 2-fold increase in fecal free sterol excretion after labeled macrophages or HDL injection. In conclusion, PPAR™ activation enhances excretion of macrophage or HDL-derived cholesterol in feces through reduced NPC1L1 expression in mice, comparable to the effect of ezetimibe. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.