Impairment of trophoblast survival and differentiation by LXR ligands is prevented by cholesterol but not ABCA1 silencing

The Liver X Receptors (LXRs) drive the transcriptional response to excess intracellular cholesterol. Oxysterols, the products of cholesterol oxidation, are activating ligands for LXR that can accumulate under conditions of oxidative stress and disrupt cholesterol homeostasis. While activation of LXR inhibits trophoblast differentiation, the impact of LXR on trophoblast physiology or cholesterol homeostasis is incompletely understood. We sought to determine if the effects of LXR activation can be ameliorated through modification of cholesterol bioavailability or inhibition of LXR-driven cholesterol efflux in trophoblasts.

Source: Placenta - July 10, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: C. Miles Harmon, Stacy McGonigal, Jacob C. Larkin Source Type: research