Promoter variant −204A > C of the cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase gene: Association with response to plant sterols in humans and increased transcriptional activity in transfected HepG2 cells

Summary Background & aims The bile acid pool influences intestinal cholesterol absorption because this process is strictly dependent on micellar solubilization, which is disrupted by plant sterols (PS). Plasma lipid variation relates to promoter variant −204A > C (rs3808607) of the CYP7A1 gene encoding for 7α-hydroxylase, an enzyme for bile acid synthesis. We hypothesized that this polymorphism would be associated with variability in lipid responses to PS. Methods We investigated 67 subjects (31 AA and 36 AC + CC) with lipid responses to PS documented in two studies. To assess the functionality of the −204A > C variant, electrophoretic mobility gel shift assays were performed and luciferase reporter plasmids containing the promoter were transfected into HepG2 cells. Results Compared to AA-subjects, C-carriers showed significantly higher adjusted mean reductions in total cholesterol (0.14 versus 0.43 mmol/L, P = 0.042) and increases in lathosterol-to-cholesterol ratios (0.10 versus 0.75, P = 0.013). The C-construct caused a 78% promoter activity increase and gel-shift assays showed lower affinity for nuclear transcription factors, while in silico experiments predicted a binding site for inhibitory nuclear factors RXR-CAR. Conclusions Results suggest that promoter −204A > C variant is associated with enhanced CYP7A1 activity. Increased intestinal bile acids and ensuing more efficient cholesterol absorption might explain why C-allele carriers show enhanced cholesterol lowering and increased feedback cholesterol synthesis to PS intervention.