Inhibitors of AKT kinase increase LDL receptor mRNA expression by two different mechanisms

Protein kinase B (AKT) is a serine/threonine kinase that functions as an important downstream effector of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. We have recently shown that MK-2206 and triciribine, two highly selective AKT inhibitors increase the level of low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) mRNA which leads to increased amount of cell-surface LDLRs. However, whereas MK-2206 induces transcription of the LDLR gene, triciribine stabilizes LDLR mRNA, raising the possibility that the two inhibitors may actually affect other kinases than AKT. In this study, we aimed to ascertain the role of AKT in regulation of LDLR mRNA expression by examining the effect of five additional AKT inhibitors on LDLR mRNA levels. Here we show that in cultured HepG2 cells, AKT inhibitors ARQ-092, AKT inhibitor VIII, perifosine, AT7867 and CCT128930 increase LDLR mRNA levels by inducing the activity of LDLR promoter. CCT128930 also increased the stability of LDLR mRNA. To study the role of AKT isoforms on LDLR mRNA levels, we examined the effect of siRNA-mediated knockdown of AKT1 or AKT2 on LDLR promoter activity and LDLR mRNA stability. Whereas knockdown of either AKT1 or AKT2 led to upregulation of LDLR promoter activity, only knockdown of AKT2 had a stabilizing effect on LDLR mRNA. Taken together, these results provide strong evidence for involvement of AKT in regulation of LDLR mRNA expression, and point towards the AKT isoform specificity for upregulation of LDLR mRNA expression.