The study attempted to elucidate whether
lipid genes are closely associated with
lipid metabolic abnormalities during the lithogenic time and how
Yinchenhao Decoction (YCHD) works on the transcriptions of
lipid genes against
cholesterol gallstone model. C57BL/6J mice fed on lithogenic diet (LD) were used for model establishment and randomized into 5 groups. All groups received LD for different weeks with isometrically intragastric administration of YCHD or NS. Biochemical tests were measured and liver tissues were harvested for histological and genetic detection. It was found that all groups with increasing LD showed a following tendency of
gallstone incidence, bile
cholesterol,
phospholipids, total
bile acid, and
cholesterol saturation index (CSI). Conversely, YCHD could significantly normalize the levels of
gallstone incidence, bile
lipids, and CSI (CSI<1). As lithogenic time progressed, ABCG5, ABCG8,
PPAR-α, and ABCB4 were upregulated, and SREBP2, CYP7A1, and CYP7B1 were downregulated, while CYP7A1, CYP7B1, LXR, and HMGCR
mRNA were increased 3-fold under the administration of YCHD. It was concluded that abnormal expressions of the mentioned genes may eventually progress to
cholesterol gallstone. CYP7A1, CYP7B1, LXR, and HMGCR
mRNA may be efficient targets of YCHD, which may be a preventive drug to reverse liver injury, normalize bile
lipids, facilitate
gallstone dissolution, and attenuate
gallstone formation.