RESUMO
Cholesterol homeostasis is essential in normal physiology of all cells. One of several proteins involved in cholesterol homeostasis is the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), a transmembrane protein widely expressed in many tissues. One of its main functions is the efflux of intracellular free cholesterol and phospholipids across the plasma membrane to combine with apolipoproteins, mainly apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I), forming nascent high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) particles, the first step of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). In addition, ABCA1 regulates cholesterol and phospholipid content in the plasma membrane affecting lipid rafts, microparticle (MP) formation and cell signaling. Thus, it is not surprising that impaired ABCA1 function and altered cholesterol homeostasis may affect many different organs and is involved in the pathophysiology of a broad array of diseases. This review describes evidence obtained from animal models, human studies and genetic variation explaining how ABCA1 is involved in dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease (CHD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), thrombosis, neurological disorders, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, viral infections and in cancer progression.
Assuntos
Transportador 1 de Cassete de Ligação de ATP/metabolismo , Colesterol/metabolismo , Transportador 1 de Cassete de Ligação de ATP/deficiência , Transportador 1 de Cassete de Ligação de ATP/genética , Envelhecimento/genética , Envelhecimento/metabolismo , Animais , Doenças Transmissíveis/etiologia , Doença das Coronárias/etiologia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/etiologia , Dislipidemias/etiologia , Dislipidemias/metabolismo , Oftalmopatias/etiologia , Variação Genética , Humanos , Resistência à Insulina , Lipídeos/sangue , Hepatopatias/etiologia , Malária/etiologia , MicroRNAs/genética , Modelos Biológicos , Mutação , Neoplasias/etiologia , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso/etiologia , Doença de Tangier/etiologiaRESUMO
PURPOSE: The sun mushroom (Agaricus brasiliensis) is considered a major source of bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. Mushrooms typically act as lipid-lowering agents; however, little is known about the mechanisms of action of A. brasiliensis in biological systems. This study aimed to determine the underlying mechanism involved in the cholesterol-lowering effect of A. brasiliensis through the assessment of fecal and serum lipid profiles in addition to gene expression analysis of specific transcription factors, enzymes, and transporters involved in cholesterol homeostasis. METHODS: Twenty-four albino Fischer rats approximately 90 days old, with an average weight of 205 g, were divided into four groups of 6 each and fed a standard AIN-93 M diet (C), hypercholesterolemic diet (H), hypercholesterolemic diet +1 % A. brasiliensis (HAb), or hypercholesterolemic diet +0.008 % simvastatin (HS) for 6 weeks. Simvastatin was used as a positive control, as it is a typical drug prescribed for lipid disorders. Subsequently, blood, liver, and feces samples were collected for lipid profile and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction gene expression analyses. RESULTS: Diet supplementation with A. brasiliensis significantly improved serum lipid profiles, comparable to the effect observed for simvastatin. In addition, A. brasiliensis dietary supplementation markedly promoted fecal cholesterol excretion. Increased expression of 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), ATP-binding cassette subfamily G-transporters (ABCG5/G8), and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) was observed following A. brasiliensis administration. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that consumption of A. brasiliensis improves the serum lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats by modulating the expression of key genes involved in hepatic cholesterol metabolism.
Assuntos
Agaricales/química , Agaricus/química , Colesterol/sangue , Homeostase/genética , Hipercolesterolemia/sangue , Membro 5 da Subfamília G de Transportadores de Cassetes de Ligação de ATP/sangue , Membro 5 da Subfamília G de Transportadores de Cassetes de Ligação de ATP/genética , Membro 8 da Subfamília G de Transportadores de Cassetes de Ligação de ATP/sangue , Membro 8 da Subfamília G de Transportadores de Cassetes de Ligação de ATP/metabolismo , Animais , Colesterol 7-alfa-Hidroxilase/sangue , Colesterol 7-alfa-Hidroxilase/genética , Colesterol na Dieta/administração & dosagem , Colesterol na Dieta/efeitos adversos , Dieta Hiperlipídica/efeitos adversos , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Metabolismo dos Lipídeos/genética , Lipoproteínas/sangue , Lipoproteínas/genética , Lipoproteínas/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos Endogâmicos F344 , Receptores de LDL/sangue , Receptores de LDL/genéticaRESUMO
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a spectrum of hepatic histopathological changes ranging from non-inflammatory intracellular fat deposition to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which may progress into hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD hallmark is the excessive hepatic accumulation of neutral lipids that result from an imbalance between lipid availability and lipid removal. Recent data suggest that disturbed hepatic cholesterol homeostasis and liver free cholesterol (FC) accumulation are relevant to the pathogenesis of NAFLD/NASH. Hepatic FC accumulation in NAFLD results from alterations in intracellular cholesterol transport and from unbalanced cellular cholesterol homeostasis characterized by activation of cholesterol biosynthetic pathways, increased cholesterol de-esterification and attenuation of cholesterol export and bile acid synthesis pathways. FC accumulation leads to liver injury through the activation of intracellular signaling pathways in Kupffer cells (KCs), Stellate cells (HSCs) and hepatocytes. The activation of KCs and HSCs promotes inflammation and fibrogenesis. In addition, FC accumulation in liver mitochondria induces mitochondrial dysfunction, which results in increasing production of reactive oxygen species, and triggers the unfolded protein response in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) causing ER stress and apoptosis. These events create a vicious circle that contributes to the maintenance of steatosis and promotes ongoing hepatocyte death and liver damage, which in turn may translate into disease progression. In the present review we summarize the current knowledge on dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis in NAFLD and examine the cellular mechanisms of hepatic FC toxicity and its contribution to ongoing liver injury in this disease. The therapeutic implications of this knowledge are also discussed.
RESUMO
The proposed role of Niemann-Pick type C1 protein (NPC1) in the delivery of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol to the sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP):SREBP cleavage activation protein (SCAP) complex in the endoplasmic reticulum has been largely based on indirect studies and remains contentious. The major aim of the present study was to assess whether NPC1 is involved in the delivery of LDL cholesterol to the SREBP:SCAP complex. A cell line stably expressing green fluorescence protein-SCAP was cultured in the presence of U18666A, which can induce a Niemann-Pick type C disease phenotype, in order to locate the SREBP:SCAP complex by fluorescence microscopy. Our major finding was that defective NPC1 caused a delay in the ability of LDL cholesterol to suppress SREBP processing. This was shown in a time-course experiment by the effect of LDL on green fluorescence protein-SCAP movement when cells were treated with pharmacological agents to induce a Niemann-Pick type C disease phenotype. We demonstrated directly by fluorescence microscopy that defective NPC1 causes a delay in LDL cholesterol delivery to the endoplasmic reticulum where SCAP senses cholesterol.