Effect of ketoconazole on cholesterol synthesis and on HMG-CoA reductase and LDL-receptor activities in Hep G2 cells.

Ketoconazole, an imidazole derivative, is a member of a class of metabolic inhibitors acting specifically at cytochrome-P450 mediated reactions. We studied the effects of this compound on cholesterol synthesis, and on HMG-CoA reductase and LDL receptor activities, in cultures of human hepatoma cell line Hep G2. Ketoconazole, added in concentrations of 2-100 microM, inhibited cholesterol synthesis, and caused accumulation of lanosterol and dihydrolanosterol. Total mass formation of sterols was depressed. After 20 hr preincubation of the cells with the drug in these concentrations, activity of HMG-CoA reductase was markedly decreased, while the receptor-mediated binding, uptake and degradation of human LDL were increased. This increase is at least partly due to a higher affinity of LDL for its receptor. Ketoconazole prevented the fall in LDL-receptor activity caused by preincubation with LDL, whereas it did not affect the suppression caused by preincubation with exogenous mevalonate. These findings are discussed with respect to the involvement of endogenous sterol and non-sterol effectors of reductase and receptor activities.