論文

査読有り
2025年4月14日

Exploring the Roles of Liver X Receptors in Lipid Metabolism and Immunity in Atherosclerosis

Biomolecules
  • Kaori Endo-Umeda
  • ,
  • Makoto Makishima

15
4
開始ページ
579
終了ページ
579
記述言語
英語
掲載種別
研究論文(学術雑誌)
DOI
10.3390/biom15040579
出版者・発行元
MDPI AG

Hypercholesterolemia causes atherosclerosis by inducing immune cell migration and chronic inflammation in arterial walls. Recent single-cell analyses reveal the presence of lipid-enriched foamy macrophages, as well as other macrophage subtypes, neutrophils, T cells, and B cells, in atherosclerotic plaques in both animal models and humans. These cells interact with each other and other cells, including non-immune cells such as endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. They thereby regulate metabolic, inflammatory, phagocytic, and cell death processes, thus affecting the progression and stability of atherosclerotic plaques. The nuclear receptors liver X receptor (LXR)α and LXRβ are transcription factors that are activated by oxysterols and regulate lipid metabolism and immune responses. LXRs regulate cholesterol homeostasis by controlling cholesterol’s transport, absorption, synthesis, and breakdown in the liver and intestine. LXRs are also highly expressed in tissue-resident and monocyte-derived macrophages and other immune cells, including both myeloid cells and lymphocytes, and they regulate both innate and adaptive immune responses. Interestingly, LXRs have immunosuppressive and immunoregulatory functions that are cell-type-dependent. In animal models of atherosclerosis, LXRs have been shown to be involved in both progression and regression phases. The pharmacological activation of LXR enhances cholesterol efflux from macrophages and promotes atherosclerosis progression. Deleting LXR in immune cells, especially myeloid cells, accelerates atherosclerosis by increasing monocyte migration, macrophage proliferation and activation, and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs); furthermore, the deletion of hematopoietic LXRs impairs the regression of atherosclerotic plaques. Therefore, LXRs in immune cells may be a potent therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.

リンク情報
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15040579
URL
https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/4/579/pdf
ID情報
  • DOI : 10.3390/biom15040579
  • eISSN : 2218-273X

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