Ketoconazole and 25-hydroxycholesterol produce reciprocal changes in the rate of transcription of the human LDL receptor gene.

Sterol-dependent regulation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene expression was studied in the human hepatoma HepG2 cell line. Incubation of HepG2 cells with 20 microM ketoconazole increased the level of LDL receptor mRNA. After a lag of approx. 1.0 h the level rose 6.5-fold within 8.0 h and remained elevated for up to 24 h. Incubation with 10 micrograms 25-hydroxycholesterol/ml for 24 h produced a 40-50% reduction in the level of LDL receptor mRNA. Ketoconazole- and 25-hydroxycholesterol-induced changes in LDL receptor mRNA accumulation were due to alterations in the relative rate of LDL receptor gene transcription as measured by nuclear run-on transcription. Incubation with 20 microM ketoconazole for 4 h or 10 micrograms 25-hydroxycholesterol/ml for 24 h produced a 3.6-fold increase and a 40% reduction, respectively, in the transcription rate of LDL receptor gene. Removal of the Alu-like sequence elements within the LDL receptor cDNA was required to consistently measure changes in LDL receptor gene transcription. No significant changes were noted in the half-life of LDL receptor mRNA in ketoconazole or 25-hydroxycholesterol-treated cells. These data demonstrate that sterol-dependent changes in the level of LDL receptor mRNA can be completely accounted for by changes in the rate of LDL receptor gene transcription.