miR-33 inhibition attenuates the effect of liver X receptor agonist T0901317 on expression of liver X receptor alpha in mice liver

BACKGROUND: microRNAs play pivotal roles in metabolism and other aspects of cell biology. microRNA-33 and liver X receptor (LXR) affect lipid metabolism and cholesterol trafficking. In this study, we evaluated effects of co-administration of miR-33 inhibitor and LXR activator on LXR-α and adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expression in mice liver. METHODS: Twenty-four mice were randomly allocated into four groups (n = 6). Group 1 mice received standard chow diet without any treatment, group 2 received 30 mg/kg/48 hour LXR agonist (T0901317), group 3 received 1 mg/kg/48 hour in vivo locked nucleic acids (LNA) anti-miR-33 and group 4 received both T0901317 and in vivo LNA anti-miR-33. All treatments were administrated through intraperitoneal injection (IP). After 7 days and at the end of the study, mice were sacrificed, liver tissues were excised and blood samples were collected. LXR-α and ABCA1 genes and protein expression were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: LXR activation caused LXR-α and ABCA1 mRNA (P < 0.050) and protein elevation as compared to control (P < 0.001). miR-33 inhibition attenuates T0901317 effect on LXR-α expression in group IV. Co-administration of T0901317 and anti-miR-33 remarkably elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, compared to control group (P = 0.001). Separate administration of T0901317 and anti-miR-33 also elevated HDL-C levels (P < 0.010). CONCLUSION: Co-administration of T0901317 and anti-miR-33 can be considered as a good therapeutic alternative for atherosclerosis because miR-33 inhibition reduced lipogenic effects of LXR-α activator and also helps LXR-α agonist to increase reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and also HDL-C as antiatherogenic effects.