Phenylbutyrate up-regulates the adrenoleukodystrophy-related gene as a nonclassical peroxisome proliferator

J Cell Biol. 2005 Apr 11;169(1):93-104. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200501036. Epub 2005 Apr 4.

Abstract

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a demyelinating disease due to mutations in the ABCD1 (ALD) gene, encoding a peroxisomal ATP-binding cassette transporter (ALDP). Overexpression of adrenoleukodystrophy-related protein, an ALDP homologue encoded by the ABCD2 (adrenoleukodystrophy-related) gene, can compensate for ALDP deficiency. 4-Phenylbutyrate (PBA) has been shown to induce both ABCD2 expression and peroxisome proliferation in human fibroblasts. We show that peroxisome proliferation with unusual shapes and clusters occurred in liver of PBA-treated rodents in a PPARalpha-independent way. PBA activated Abcd2 in cultured glial cells, making PBA a candidate drug for therapy of X-ALD. The Abcd2 induction observed was partially PPARalpha independent in hepatocytes and totally independent in fibroblasts. We demonstrate that a GC box and a CCAAT box of the Abcd2 promoter are the key elements of the PBA-dependent Abcd2 induction, histone deacetylase (HDAC)1 being recruited by the GC box. Thus, PBA is a nonclassical peroxisome proliferator inducing pleiotropic effects, including effects at the peroxisomal level mainly through HDAC inhibition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D, Member 1
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / metabolism*
  • Adrenoleukodystrophy / genetics*
  • Adrenoleukodystrophy / pathology
  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Fibroblasts
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Hepatocytes / ultrastructure
  • Histone Deacetylases / genetics
  • Histone Deacetylases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology
  • Neuroglia / metabolism
  • Neuroglia / ultrastructure
  • PPAR alpha / genetics
  • PPAR alpha / metabolism
  • Peroxisome Proliferators / pharmacology*
  • Peroxisomes / genetics
  • Peroxisomes / metabolism
  • Peroxisomes / ultrastructure*
  • Phenylbutyrates / pharmacology*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects*
  • Up-Regulation / genetics
  • Up-Regulation / physiology

Substances

  • ABCD1 protein, human
  • ABCD2 protein, human
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D, Member 1
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • PPAR alpha
  • Peroxisome Proliferators
  • Phenylbutyrates
  • 4-phenylbutyric acid
  • Histone Deacetylases