LXR对胆固醇稳态影响的研究进展

胆固醇是细胞膜的重要组成部分,构成生命的基本分子之一,也是胆汁酸和类固醇激素合成的底物,其代谢平衡受到诸多因素的精密调节.虽然胆固醇是细胞和人体生理功能所必需的,但血清总胆固醇增高可导致2型糖尿病、高胆固醇血症以及动脉粥样硬化等疾病.肝X受体(LXR)是一种重要的细胞核受体,是配体依赖的转录因子,包含LXRα和LXRβ两种亚型,LXRα在肝脏、小肠、巨噬细胞、脂肪组织中均有表达,而LXRβ有着广泛的表达.LXR与视黄醇类X受体结合后,形成异二聚体,刺激靶基因的表达.激活的LXR通过调节肠道对饮食胆固醇的吸收、肝脏对胆固醇的合成和降解以及胆汁酸的代谢,控制着胆固醇稳态.此外,LXR还参与调节脂肪形成、糖代谢、巨噬细胞的天然免疫和炎症反应等生理活动.因此,LXRs有望成为治疗动脉粥样硬化、阿尔茨海默氏等疾病的药物靶点.     

研究: 脂联素经肝X受体α途径对RAW 264.7巨噬细胞ABCG1表达的影响

泡沫细胞形成是动脉粥样硬化发生的关键环节,胆固醇逆转运可以防止泡沫细胞形成,ATP结合盒转运体G1(ATP-binding cassette transporter G1,ABCG1)在胆固醇逆转运中起着很重要的作用,可将细胞内胆固醇转运至高密度脂蛋白(high density lipoprotein,HDL)．肝X受体α (liver X receptor α,LXRα)可通过调节其靶基因ABCG1的表达来调控胆固醇逆转运．脂联素有很广泛的心血管保护作用,但对RAW 264.7巨噬细胞ABCG1表达的影响尚不清楚．为了研究脂联素对RAW 264.7巨噬细胞ABCG1表达的影响及其机制,采用实时荧光定量PCR、蛋白质印迹法检测ABCG1和LXRα的表达,使用液体闪烁计数仪检测胆固醇流出率,并利用siRNA干扰技术抑制LXRα的表达来研究LXRα在脂联素调节ABCG1中的作用．结果表明,脂联素浓度依赖性和时间依赖性地上调ABCG1和LXRα的mRNA和蛋白质的表达,促进巨噬细胞胆固醇流出．经LXRα siRNA处理后,脂联素上调ABCG1的作用消失,胆固醇流出率也相应减少．上述结果提示,脂联素经LXRα途径促进RAW 264.7巨噬细胞ABCG1表达和胆固醇流出,防止泡沫细胞形成,减轻动脉粥样硬化．     

LXRs在脂质代谢中的作用

LXRs ,为liverX activatedreceptors的简称 ,是核受体超家族的成员 ,包括两种同源亚型LXRα(NR1H3)和LXRβ(NR1H2 )。LXRs被内源性配体氧化甾醇或人工合成配体激活后 ,先与RXRα(retinoidXreceptorα ,亦称NR2B1)形成异二聚体 ,再与其靶基因的LXR调控元件结合 ,通过转录调节调控胆固醇的代谢、储存、吸收和转运 ,从而维持甾醇和脂肪酸代谢平衡。此外 ,LXRs也参与糖代谢调节 ,活化的LXRs可通过抑制肝脏糖异生而改变II型糖尿病动物的血糖水平。因此 ,LXRs有望成为治疗动脉粥样硬化和II型糖尿病的新靶点     

LXR/RXR及ABCA1跨膜转运胆固醇体系与阿尔茨海默病

胆固醇代谢异常和Aβ沉积与阿尔茨海默病(AD)的发生发展密切相关。肝X受体(LXR)和类视黄醇X受体(RXR)介导的三磷酸腺苷结合盒A1(ABCA1)跨膜转运胆固醇体系在维持细胞内外胆固醇平衡中发挥重要作用,并参与Aβ的转运、沉积和老年斑的形成,其中的关键介导物质有望成为AD治疗的新靶点。     

脂联素经肝X受体α途径对RAW 264.7巨噬细胞ABCG1表达的影响

泡沫细胞形成是动脉粥样硬化发生的关键环节,胆固醇逆转运可以防止泡沫细胞形成,ATP结合盒转运体G1(ATP-binding cassette transporter G1,ABCG1)在胆固醇逆转运中起着很重要的作用,可将细胞内胆固醇转运至高密度脂蛋白(high density lipoprotein,HDL).肝X受体α(liver X receptorα,LXRα)可通过调节其靶基因ABCG1的表达来调控胆固醇逆转运.脂联素有很广泛的心血管保护作用,但对RAW 264.7巨噬细胞ABCG1表达的影响尚不清楚.为了研究脂联素对RAW 264.7巨噬细胞ABCG1表达的影响及其机制,采用实时荧光定量PCR、蛋白质印迹法检测ABCG1和LXRα的表达,使用液体闪烁计数仪检测胆固醇流出率,并利用siRNA干扰技术抑制LXRα的表达来研究LXRα在脂联素调节ABCG1中的作用.结果表明,脂联素浓度依赖性和时间依赖性地上调ABCG1和LXRα的mRNA和蛋白质的表达,促进巨噬细胞胆固醇流出.经LXRα siRNA处理后,脂联素上调ABCG1的作用消失,胆固醇流出率也相应减少.上述结果提示,脂联素经LXRα途径促进RAW 264.7巨噬细胞ABCG1表达和胆固醇流出,防止泡沫细胞形成,减轻动脉粥样硬化.     

肝X受体α在泡沫细胞胆固醇流出中的调控作用

以THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞为研究对象,观察肝X受体α(LXRα)在THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞胆固醇流出中的调控作用.结果发现,22(R)-羟基胆固醇剂量依赖性增加THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞胆固醇流出, 而DIDS剂量依赖性减少THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞胆固醇流出.逆转录聚合酶链反应显示, 22(R)-羟基胆固醇可增加THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞LXRα mRNA的表达, DIDS可抑制THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞LXRα mRNA的表达.结果提示,LXRα在巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞胆固醇流出中起着重要的调控作用,这为开发和寻找抗动脉粥样硬化药物提供了新的思路.     

ABCG5和ABCG8在胆囊胆固醇结石形成中的作用

腺苷三磷酸结合盒转运体G5和G8(ATP binding cassette transport G5,ABCG5和ATP binding cassette transport G8,ABCG8)位于构成管腔的细胞膜一端,使进入细胞内的固醇泵出到细胞外,参与胆固醇逆向转运(RCT)．在减少小肠和促进肝脏排泄固醇过程中发挥重要作用。突变后导致机体固醇蓄积,血浆固醇水平升高。ABCG5和ABCG8是促进胆囊胆固醇结石形成的关键因素。激动核受体LXR、RXR和FXR的途径对ABCG5和ABCG8的表达具有调控作用。     

胆固醇逆向转运的分子机制

胆固醇逆向转运是周围细胞胆固醇转运至肝脏转化、清除的重要生理过程,它在维持机体胆固醇代谢平衡和对抗动脉粥样硬化发生及发展中起重要作用。研究证实胆固醇逆向转运直是高密度脂蛋白在多种生物活性分子参与下,由新生前β－ＨＤＬ到成熟α－ＨＤＬ递变的胆固醇转运及代谢过程。     

核受体LXR在糖代谢中的作用

最新研究表明,核受体LXR是糖代谢的关键调节因子。LXR在肌肉和脂肪组织中通过葡糖转运蛋白(GLUT)使葡萄糖上调控,在肝脏中通过抑制重要的糖合成酶的表达来抑制糖合成。     

研究: 肺炎衣原体抑制LXRα-ABCA1途径促进巨噬细胞脂质蓄积

为探讨肝X受体α (LXRα)-三磷酸腺苷结合盒转运体A1 (ABCA1)途径在肺炎衣原体 (C. pneumoniae)促巨噬细胞脂质蓄积中的作用和机制,以THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞为模型,采用高效液相色谱分析细胞内总胆固醇、游离胆固醇和胆固醇酯含量,液体闪烁计数器检测细胞内胆固醇流出,RT-PCR检测ABCA1和LXRα mRNA的表达,蛋白质印迹检测ABCA1和LXRα的蛋白质表达;使用LXRα的特异性激动剂T0901317对细胞进行预处理,再观察上述指标的变化．结果显示,C. pneumoniae可促进THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞内总胆固醇、游离胆固醇和胆固醇酯含量增加,抑制胆固醇外流,降低细胞ABCA1和LXRα的表达;使用ABCA1激动剂8-溴-环磷酸腺苷预处理细胞或LXR激动剂T0901317预处理细胞后,可明显减弱C. pneumoniae对THP-1细胞ABCA1的表达抑制,促进细胞胆固醇流出,降低细胞内胆固醇的含量．结果提示,C. pneumoniae促进巨噬细胞脂质蓄积及胆固醇流出障碍,其机制可能与LXRα-ABCA1途径有关．     

Investigation of the mechanism of temperature sensitivity of the electroreceptors of ampullae of lorenzini

In experiments on Black Sea skates (Raja clavata), the potential of the receptor epithelium of the ampullae of Lorenzini and spike activity of single nerve fibers connected to them were investigated during electrical and temperature stimulation. Usually the potential within the canal was between 0 and –2 mV, and the input resistance of the ampulla 250–400 k. Heating of the region of the receptor epithelium was accompanied by a negative wave of potential, an increase in input resistance, and inhibition of spike activity. With worsening of the animal's condition the transepithelial potential became positive (up to +10 mV) but the input resistance of the ampulla during stimulation with a positive current was nonlinear in some cases: a regenerative spike of positive polarity appeared in the channel. During heating, the spike response was sometimes reversed in sign. It is suggested that fluctuations of the transepithelial potential and spike responses to temperature stimulation reflect changes in the potential difference on the basal membrane of the receptor cells, which is described by a relationship of the Nernst's or Goldman's equation type.I. P. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. I. M. Sechenov, Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Pacific Institute of Oceanology, Far Eastern Scientific Center, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Vladivostok. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 67–74, January–February, 1980.     

Principles of organization and evolution of systems of regulation of functions

Evolution of living organisms is closely connected with evolution of structure of the system of regulations and its mechanisms. The functional ground of regulations is chemical signalization. As early as in unicellular organisms there is a set of signal mechanisms providing their life activity and orientation in space and time. Subsequent evolution of ways of chemical signalization followed the way of development of delivery pathways of chemical signal and development of mechanisms of its regulation. The mechanism of chemical regulation of the signal interaction is discussed by the example of the specialized system of transduction of signal from neuron to neuron, of effect of hormone on the epithelial cell and modulation of this effect. These mechanisms are considered as the most important ways of the fine and precise adaptation of chemical signalization underlying functioning of physiological systems and organs of the living organism