Stigmasterol stimulates transintestinal cholesterol excretion independent of liver X receptor activation in the small intestine.

ABSTRACT: Despite advances in healthcare, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Elevated levels of plasma cholesterol are highly predictive of CVD and stroke and are the principal driver of atherosclerosis. Unfortunately, current cholesterol lowering agents, such as statins, are not known to reverse atherosclerotic disease once it has been established. In preclinical models, agonists of nuclear receptor, LXR, have been shown to reduce and reverse atherosclerosis. Phytosterols are bioactive non-cholesterol sterols that act as LXR agonists and regulate cholesterol metabolism and transport. We hypothesized that stigmasterol would act as an LXR agonist and alter intestinal cholesterol secretion to promote cholesterol elimination. Mice were fed a control di

SUBMITTER: Lifsey HC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7199294 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature