Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Protein-1c Is Responsible for Cholesterol Regulation of Ileal Bile Acid-binding Protein Gene in Vivo

Ileal bile acid-binding protein (I-BABP) is a cytosolic protein that binds bile acid (BA) specifically. In the ileum, it is thought to be implied in their enterohepatic circulation. Because the fecal excretion of BA represents the main physiological way of elimination for cholesterol (CS), the I-BABP gene could have a major function in CS homeostasis. Therefore, the I-BABP gene expression might be controlled by CS. I-BABP mRNA levels were significatively increased when the human enterocyte-like CaCo-2 cells were CS-deprived and repressed when CS were added to the medium. A highly conserved sterol regularory element-like sequence (SRE) and a putative GC box were found in human I-BABP gene pr…