Hepatic acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase-2 expression is decreased in mice with hyperhomocysteinemia

Alterations in lipid metabolism may contribute to the pathology of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). Our objective in this study was to test the hypothesis that HHcy is associated with changes in liver acyl CoA:cholesterol acyl transferase 2 (ACAT2) expression and cholesteryl esters (CE) in mice with HHcy. ACAT2 is encoded by Soat2 and functions to catalyze the esterification of cholesterol with acyl-CoA. Mice heterozygous for disruption of the cystathionine-β-synthase gene (Cbs +/-) and C57BL/6 mice (Cbs +/+) were fed a control diet or a diet high in L-methionine (8.60 g/kg) and low in folic acid (0.20 mg/kg) to induce HHcy (HH diet). Lower Soat2 mRNA (P < 0.05) and ACAT protein (P < 0.001), higher total oleic acid [18:1(n-9)], and lower CE 18:1(n-9) was found in liver from Cbs +/2 mice fed the HH diet, with higher plasma total homocysteine concentrations, than Cbs +/+ mice fed the control diet (35.01 ± 5.6 vs. 2.21 ± 0.6 μmol/L, respectively). In silico searches identified a CpG-rich region in the 5′ portion of the Soat2 gene, which was differentially methylated (P < 0.05) in Cbs +/- mice fed the HH diet than in Cbs +/+ mice fed the control diet and was accompanied by higher (P < 0.05) B1 repeat element methylation, an indicator of global de novo methylation. These findings show altered methylation and expression of Soat2/ACAT2 in liver from mice with HHcy and suggest a role for changes in liver CE in the pathology of HHcy.