scholarly journals MicroRNA Regulation of Cholesterol Metabolism

Cholesterol ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noemi Rotllan ◽  
Carlos Fernández-Hernando

Disruption of cellular cholesterol balance results in pathologic processes including atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Maintenance of cholesterol homeostasis requires constant metabolic adjustment, achieved partly through the fine regulation of the classical transcription factors (e.g., by SREBP and LXR), but also through members of a class of noncoding RNAs termed miRNAs. Some miRNAs have now been identified to be potent post-transcriptional regulators of lipid metabolism genes, including miR-122, miR-33, miR-758, and miR-106b. Different strategies have been developed to modulate miRNA effects for therapeutic purposes. The promise demonstrated by the use of anti-miRs in human preclinical studies, in the case of miR-122, raises the possibility that miR-33, miR-758, and miR-106b may become viable therapeutic targets in future. This review summarizes the evidence for a critical role of some miRNAs in regulating cholesterol metabolism and suggests novel ways to manage dyslipidemias and cardiovascular diseases.

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijay R. Varma ◽  
H. Büşra Lüleci ◽  
Anup M. Oommen ◽  
Sudhir Varma ◽  
Chad T. Blackshear ◽  
...  

AbstractThe role of brain cholesterol metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains unclear. Peripheral and brain cholesterol levels are largely independent due to the impermeability of the blood brain barrier (BBB), highlighting the importance of studying the role of brain cholesterol homeostasis in AD. We first tested whether metabolite markers of brain cholesterol biosynthesis and catabolism were altered in AD and associated with AD pathology using linear mixed-effects models in two brain autopsy samples from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) and the Religious Orders Study (ROS). We next tested whether genetic regulators of brain cholesterol biosynthesis and catabolism were altered in AD using the ANOVA test in publicly available brain tissue transcriptomic datasets. Finally, using regional brain transcriptomic data, we performed genome-scale metabolic network modeling to assess alterations in cholesterol biosynthesis and catabolism reactions in AD. We show that AD is associated with pervasive abnormalities in cholesterol biosynthesis and catabolism. Using transcriptomic data from Parkinson’s disease (PD) brain tissue samples, we found that gene expression alterations identified in AD were not observed in PD, suggesting that these changes may be specific to AD. Our results suggest that reduced de novo cholesterol biosynthesis may occur in response to impaired enzymatic cholesterol catabolism and efflux to maintain brain cholesterol levels in AD. This is accompanied by the accumulation of nonenzymatically generated cytotoxic oxysterols. Our results set the stage for experimental studies to address whether abnormalities in cholesterol metabolism are plausible therapeutic targets in AD.


Tumor Biology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 101042831769454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Quan ◽  
Jiu-jie Cui ◽  
Xiao Feng ◽  
Qian Huang

Autotaxin, an ecto-lysophospholipase D encoded by the human ENNP2 gene, is expressed in multiple tissues, and participates in numerous critical physiologic and pathologic processes including inflammation, pain, obesity, embryo development, and cancer via the generation of the bioactive lipid lysophosphatidate. Overwhelming evidences indicate that the autotaxin/lysophosphatidate signaling axis serves key roles in the numerous processes central to tumorigenesis and progression, including proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, metastasis, cancer stem cell, tumor microenvironment, and treatment resistance by interacting with a series of at least six G-protein-coupled receptors (LPAR1–6). This review provides an overview of the autotaxin/lysophosphatidate axis and collates current knowledge regarding its specific role in pancreatic cancer. With a deeper understanding of the critical role of the autotaxin/lysophosphatidate axis in pancreatic cancer, targeting autotaxin or lysophosphatidate receptor may be a potential and promising strategy for cancer therapy.


2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (4) ◽  
pp. E820-E831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Céline Fernandez ◽  
Marie Lindholm ◽  
Morten Krogh ◽  
Stéphanie Lucas ◽  
Sara Larsson ◽  
...  

Transcriptomics analysis revealed that genes involved in hepatic de novo cholesterol synthesis were downregulated in fed HSL-null mice that had been on a high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 mo. This finding prompted a further analysis of cholesterol metabolism in HSL-null mice, which was performed in fed and 16-h-fasted mice on a normal chow diet (ND) or HFD regimen. Plasma cholesterol was elevated in HSL-null mice, in all tested conditions, as a result of cholesterol enrichment of HDL and VLDL. Hepatic esterified cholesterol content and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) mRNA and protein levels were increased in HSL-null mice regardless of the dietary regimen. Unsaturated fatty acid composition of hepatic triglycerides was modified in fasted HSL-null mice on ND and HFD. The increased ABCA1 expression had no major effect on cholesterol efflux from HSL-null mouse hepatocytes. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that HSL plays a critical role in the hydrolysis of cytosolic cholesteryl esters and that increased levels of hepatic cholesteryl esters, due to lack of action of HSL in the liver, are the main mechanism underlying the imbalance in cholesterol metabolism in HSL-null mice.


1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 557-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila M. Innis

Atherosclerosis is believed to begin early in life and to develop over several decades. Elevated plasma cholesterol is a major contributing factor. Studies in animals have shown that manipulation of cholesterol metabolism during its development in pre-and early post-natal life can permanently alter cholesterol synthesis and catabolism to favour lower plasma cholesterol levels in the adult faced with a high dietary cholesterol intake. Although the mechanisms and pathways involved are likely to be different, "metabolic training" can occur as a result of both the diet fed to the mother during gestation and lactation and from the diet fed to the animal itself in early life. The presence of cholesterol itself in the suckling diet does not appear to confer any lasting improvement to cholesterol handling in either man or animals. Although much research is still required to define the time in development for effective training of specific steps in cholesterol metabolism and the primary site and mechanism of permanently altered metabolism, significant progress has been made. These studies will form the basis of this review.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Shi ◽  
Aleksandra Niedzwiecki ◽  
Matthias Rath

Aims: Lipoprotein (a) deposition in coronary vascular plaques and cerebral vessels is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and research supports its role as a “repair factor” in vascular walls weakened by vitamin C deficiency. Background: Humans depend on dietary vitamin C as an important antioxidant, and as a cofactor in collagen synthesis, yet are prone to vitamin C deficiency. The brain is the one with the highest vitamin C content, due to its high oxygen consumption and oxidative stress. It has been shown that brain aging is accompanied by accumulated oxidative damage, which can lead to memory decline and neurological diseases. Objective: Our transgenic mouse, Gulo (-/-); Lp(a)+, presents a unique model for the study of key aspects of human metabolism with respect to a lack of internal vitamin C synthesis and the production of human Lipoprotein(a). Method: This mouse model was used in our study to investigate the effects of prolonged intake of low and high levels of vitamin C, at different ages, on oxidative damage, cholesterol levels and Lipoprotein(a) deposition in the brain. Result: The results show that a long-term high vitamin C intake is important in maintaining brain cholesterol homeostasis and preventing oxidative damage in Gulo(-/-);Lp(a)+ mice as they age. Moreover, we observed that the formation of brain Lipoprotein(a) deposits was negatively correlated with brain level of vitamin C, thereby confirming its role as a stability factor for an impaired extracellular matrix. Conclusion: Our study emphasizes the critical role of vitamin C in protecting brain health as we age. Other: Our findings show that optimal vitamin C intake from early life to old age is important in brain health to prevent oxidative stress damage and to maintain cholesterol homeostasis in the brain. More importantly, negative correlation between brain ascorbic levels and the formation of Lp(a) deposit on the choroid plexus further emphasizes the critical role of vitamin C in protecting brain health throughout the normal aging process.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinyun Chen ◽  
Qinghua Yin ◽  
Liang Ma ◽  
Ping Fu

: Considerable evidence has proved that disturbed cholesterol metabolism played a crucial role in diabetic kidney disease. Besides, massive cholesterol depositions were found in intrinsic renal cells of diabetic kidney disease patients and animal models, causing cytotoxicity, and affecting renal function. Statins could alleviate cholesterol depositions, podocyte injury and microalbuminuria of diabetic kidney disease. In the review, we summarized the process of disturbed cholesterol metabolism and discussed how it induced kidney dysfunction in diabetic kidney disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 147916412094211
Author(s):  
Sihong Shen ◽  
Fuyan Wang ◽  
Alejandra Fernandez ◽  
Weining Hu

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a type of metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycaemia with multiple serious complications, such as diabetic neuropathies, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic foot. Platelet-derived growth factors are growth factors that regulate cell growth and division, playing a critical role in diabetes and its harmful complications. This review focused on the cellular mechanism of platelet-derived growth factors and their receptors on diabetes development. Furthermore, we raise some proper therapeutic molecular targets for the treatment of diabetes and its complications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 8074
Author(s):  
Margaret Vourakis ◽  
Gaétan Mayer ◽  
Guy Rousseau

Hypercholesterolemia plays a causal role in the development of atherosclerosis and is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death worldwide especially in developed countries. Current data show that the role of microbiota extends beyond digestion by being implicated in several metabolic and inflammatory processes linked to several diseases including CVD. Studies have reported associations between bacterial metabolites and hypercholesterolemia. However, such associations remain poorly investigated and characterized. In this review, the mechanisms of microbial derived metabolites such as primary and secondary bile acids (BAs), trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) will be explored in the context of cholesterol metabolism. These metabolites play critical roles in maintaining cardiovascular health and if dysregulated can potentially contribute to CVD. They can be modulated via nutritional and pharmacological interventions such as statins, prebiotics, and probiotics. However, the mechanisms behind these interactions also remain unclear, and mechanistic insights into their impact will be provided. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are to present current knowledge on potential mechanisms whereby microbial metabolites regulate cholesterol homeostasis and to discuss the feasibility of modulating intestinal microbes and metabolites as a novel therapeutic for hypercholesterolemia.


Author(s):  
Rosa Vona ◽  
Elisabetta Iessi ◽  
Paola Matarrese

Cholesterol is a lipid molecule that plays an essential role in a number of biological processes, both physiological and pathological. It is an essential structural constituent of cell membranes, and it is fundamental for biosynthesis, integrity, and functions of biological membranes, including membrane trafficking and signaling. Moreover, cholesterol is the major lipid component of lipid rafts, a sort of lipid-based structures that regulate the assembly and functioning of numerous cell signaling pathways, including those related to cancer, such as tumor cell growth, adhesion, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. Considering the importance of cholesterol metabolism, its homeostasis is strictly regulated at every stage: import, synthesis, export, metabolism, and storage. The alterations of this homeostatic balance are known to be associated with cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis, but mounting evidence also connects these behaviors to increased cancer risks. Although there is conflicting evidence on the role of cholesterol in cancer development, most of the studies consistently suggest that a dysregulation of cholesterol homeostasis could lead to cancer development. This review aims to discuss the current understanding of cholesterol homeostasis in normal and cancerous cells, summarizing key findings from recent preclinical and clinical studies that have investigated the role of major players in cholesterol regulation and the organization of lipid rafts, which could represent promising therapeutic targets.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Zhao ◽  
Deren Hou ◽  
Xialu Feng ◽  
Fangbo Lin ◽  
Jing Luo

AbstractThe ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily is a large family of proteins that transport specific molecules across membranes. These proteins are associated with both cholesterol metabolism and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cholesterol homeostasis has a key role in AD, and ABC transporters are important mediators of lipid transportation. Emerging evidence suggests that decreased expression and hypofunction of ABC transporters are crucial to the occurrence and development of AD. In the present article, we review the current knowledge regarding ABC transporters and speculate on their role in the pathogenesis of AD.


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