Induction of mRNA for low-density lipoprotein receptors in heterozygous Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits treated with CS-514 (Pravastatin) and cholestyramine.

We administered CS-514, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, alone and in combination with cholestyramine to heterozygous Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits. This rabbit model for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia has hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptors that are assumed to be half as many as in normal rabbits. CS-514 alone lowered plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by 50%, and in combination with cholestyramine, it lowered levels by 80%. The membrane-binding assay showed these drugs caused 1.5- and 1.8-fold increases in the number of hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptors, respectively. We also measured the amount of mRNA for low-density lipoprotein receptor by S1 nuclease protection assay in the same livers as above. These drugs induced mutant mRNA for the low-density lipoprotein receptor, which has an in-flame deletion of 12 nucleotides, as well as normal receptor mRNA. CS-514 alone produced a 1.8-fold increase in the amount of mRNA for the normal receptor and a 2.3-fold increase for the mutant mRNA, whereas CS-514 in combination with cholestyramine produced 1.9- and 3.1-fold increases, respectively. We conclude that CS-514 induces mRNA for the low-density lipoprotein receptor, subsequently increasing the receptor protein in the liver, and then reduces the levels of plasma cholesterol, and that the induction is augmented when the drug is administered in combination with cholestyramine.