Effect of nuciferine on cholesterol metabolism in Bel-7402 cells

Objective:To investigate effect of nuciferine, which is the main monomer of lotus leaf,on cholesterol metabolism in Bel-7402 cells.Methods:Bel-7402 cells were grown in 1640 medium with 10 % FBS for 24 h.The medium was replaced with serum-free medium and cells were incubated for another 24 h.1 mol/L, 10 mol/L and 100 mol/L nuciferine and 10 mol/L atorvastatin were added to the mediums respectively.Gene expression and protein level of LDLR, MHMGCoA and ACAT were measured by real time PCR and Western blotting.Results:LDLR,HMGCoA mRNA and protein levels increased significantly by each dose of nuciferine in a dose-dependent manner(P0.01)when compared with the control group.The levels of LDLR, HMGCOAR mRNA and protein were higher in atorvastatin-loading cells than those in nuciferine-loading cells(P0.01).The levels of ACAT mRNA expression and protein content were reduced by Nuciferine or Atorvastatin , higher in middle dose of nuciferine group than that in atorvastatin group(P0.01, P0.05).The levels of ACAT mRNA expression were higher in high dose of nuciferine group than those in atorvastatin group(P0.05), while there was no significant difference in the level of protein between the two groups.Conclusion:Nuciferine is likely to inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol and cholesterol esterase activity, and elevate low-density lipoprotein receptor expression to reduce blood lipid.