Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α mediates enhancement of gene expression of cerebroside sulfotransferase in several murine organs.

Sulfatides, 3-O-sulfogalactosylceramides, are known to have multifunctional properties. These molecules are distributed in various tissues of mammals, where they are synthesized from galactosylceramides by sulfation at C3 of the galactosyl residue. Although this reaction is specifically catalyzed by cerebroside sulfotransferase (CST), the mechanisms underlying the transcriptional regulation of this enzyme are not understood. With respect to this issue, we previously found potential sequences of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) response element on upstream regions of the mouse CST gene and presumed the possible regulation by the nuclear receptor PPARα. To confirm this hypothesis, we treated wild-type and Ppara-null mice with the specific PPARα agonist fenofibrate and examined the amounts of sulfatides and CST gene expression in various tissues. Fenofibrate treatment increased sulfatides and CST mRNA levels in the kidney, heart, liver, and small intestine in a PPARα-dependent manner. However, these effects of fenofibrate were absent in the brain or colon. Fenofibrate treatment did not affect the mRNA level of arylsulfatase A, which is the key enzyme for catalyzing desulfation of sulfatides, in any of these six tissues. Analyses of the DNA-binding activity and conventional gene expression targets of PPARα has demonstrated that fenofibrate treatment activated PPARα in the kidney, heart, liver, and small intestine but did not affect the brain or colon. These findings suggest that PPARα activation induces CST gene expression and enhances sulfatide synthesis in mice, which suggests that PPARα is a possible transcriptional regulator for the mouse CST gene.