Hepatic isoprenoid metabolism in a rat model of Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome

Lipids. 2013 Mar;48(3):219-29. doi: 10.1007/s11745-013-3762-x. Epub 2013 Jan 30.

Abstract

Elevated (4 to 7-fold) levels of urinary dolichol and coenzyme Q and substantially longer chain lengths for urinary dolichols have been reported in Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome (SLOS) patients, compared to normal subjects. We investigated the possibility of similar alterations in hepatic, nonsterol isoprenoids in a well-established rat model of SLOS. In this model, the ratio of 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC) to cholesterol (Chol) in serum approached 15:1; however, total sterol mass in serum decreased by >80 %. Livers from treated rats had 7DHC/Chol ratios of ~32:1, but the steady-state levels of total sterols were >40 % those of livers from age-matched (3-month-old) control animals. No significant differences in the levels of LDL receptor or HMG-CoA reductase were observed. The levels of dolichol and coenzyme Q were elevated only modestly (by 64 and 31 %, respectively; p < 0.05, N = 6) in the livers of the SLOS rat model compared to controls; moreover, the chain lengths of these isoprenoids were not different in the two groups. We conclude that hepatic isoprenoid synthesis is marginally elevated in this animal model of SLOS, but without preferential shunting to the nonsterol branches (dolichol and coenzyme Q) of the pathway and without alteration of normal dolichol chain lengths.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Dehydrocholesterols / blood
  • Dehydrocholesterols / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dolichols / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome / blood
  • Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome / chemically induced
  • Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome / metabolism*
  • Terpenes / blood
  • Terpenes / metabolism*
  • Ubiquinone / metabolism
  • trans-1,4-Bis(2-chlorobenzaminomethyl)cyclohexane Dihydrochloride

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Dehydrocholesterols
  • Dolichols
  • Terpenes
  • Ubiquinone
  • trans-1,4-Bis(2-chlorobenzaminomethyl)cyclohexane Dihydrochloride
  • Cholesterol
  • 7-dehydrocholesterol
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors
  • 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase