Molecules, Vol. 24, Pages 4140: Lunasin Improves the LDL-C Lowering Efficacy of Simvastatin via Inhibiting PCSK9 Expression in Hepatocytes and ApoE −/− Mice

Molecules, Vol. 24, Pages 4140: Lunasin Improves the LDL-C Lowering Efficacy of Simvastatin via Inhibiting PCSK9 Expression in Hepatocytes and ApoE−/− Mice Molecules doi: 10.3390/molecules24224140 Authors: Lili Gu Yaqin Gong Cheng Zhao Yue Wang Qinghua Tian Gaoxin Lei Yalin Liang Wenfeng Zhao Shuhua Tan Statins are the most popular therapeutic drugs to lower plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) synthesis by competitively inhibiting hydroxyl-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase and up-regulating the hepatic low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). However, the concomitant up-regulation of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) by statin attenuates its cholesterol lowering efficacy. Lunasin, a soybean derived 43-amino acid polypeptide, has been previously shown to functionally enhance LDL uptake via down-regulating PCSK9 and up-regulating LDLR in hepatocytes and mice. Herein, we investigated the LDL-C lowering efficacy of simvastatin combined with lunasin. In HepG2 cells, after co-treatment with 1 μM simvastatin and 5 μM lunasin for 24 h, the up-regulation of PCSK9 by simvastatin was effectively counteracted by lunasin via down-regulating hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF-1α), and the functional LDL uptake was additively enhanced. Additionally, after combined therapy with simvastatin and lunasin for four weeks, ApoE−/− mice had significantl...
Source: Molecules - Category: Chemistry Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research