Antioxidant supplementation ameliorates molecular deficits in Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome

Biol Psychiatry. 2014 Feb 1;75(3):215-22. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.06.013. Epub 2013 Jul 26.

Abstract

Background: Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is an inborn error of cholesterol biosynthesis characterized by diminished cholesterol and increased 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) levels. 7-Dehydrocholesterol is highly reactive, giving rise to biologically active oxysterols.

Methods: 7-DHC-derived oxysterols were measured in fibroblasts from SLOS patients and an in vivo SLOS rodent model using high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Expression of lipid biosynthesis genes was ascertained by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. The effects of an antioxidant mixture of vitamin A, coenzyme Q10, vitamin C, and vitamin E were evaluated for their potential to reduce formation of 7-DHC oxysterols in fibroblast from SLOS patients. Finally, the effect of maternal feeding of vitamin E enriched diet was ascertained in the brain and liver of newborn SLOS mice.

Results: In cultured human SLOS fibroblasts, the antioxidant mixture led to decreased levels of the 7-DHC-derived oxysterol, 3β,5α-dihydroxycholest-7-en-6-one. Furthermore, gene expression changes in SLOS human fibroblasts were normalized with antioxidant treatment. The active ingredient appeared to be vitamin E, as even at low concentrations, it significantly decreased 3β,5α-dihydroxycholest-7-en-6-one levels. In addition, analyzing a mouse SLOS model revealed that feeding a vitamin E enriched diet to pregnant female mice led to a decrease in oxysterol formation in brain and liver tissues of the newborn Dhcr7-knockout pups.

Conclusions: Considering the adverse effects of 7-DHC-derived oxysterols in neuronal and glial cultures and the positive effects of antioxidants in patient cell cultures and the transgenic mouse model, we believe that preventing formation of 7-DHC oxysterols is critical for countering the detrimental effects of DHCR7 mutations.

Keywords: 7-dehydrocholesterol; Antioxidants; DHCEO; Dhcr7; Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome; oxysterol.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage*
  • Ascorbic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Ascorbic Acid / metabolism
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / genetics
  • Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome / genetics
  • Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome / pathology
  • Ubiquinone / administration & dosage
  • Ubiquinone / analogs & derivatives
  • alpha-Tocopherol / administration & dosage
  • alpha-Tocopherol / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Ubiquinone
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors
  • 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase
  • coenzyme Q10
  • alpha-Tocopherol
  • Ascorbic Acid