B. Trigatti et al., Influence of the high density lipoprotein receptor SR-BI on reproductive and cardiovascular pathophysiology, P NAS US, 96(16), 1999, pp. 9322-9327
Citations number
66
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary
Journal title
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The high density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor SR-BI (scavenger receptor class
B type I) mediates the selective uptake of plasma HDL cholesterol by the l
iver and steroidogenic tissues. As a consequence, SR-BI can influence plasm
a HDL cholesterol levels, HDL structure, biliary cholesterol concentrations
, and the uptake, storage, and utilization of cholesterol by steroid hormon
e-producing cells. Here we used homozygous null SR-BI knockout mice to show
that SR-BI is required for maintaining normal biliary cholesterol levels,
oocyte development, and female fertility. We also used SR-BI/apolipoprotein
E double homozygous knockout mice to show that SR-BI can protect against e
arly-onset atherosclerosis. Although the mechanisms underlying the effects
of SR-BI loss on reproduction and atherosclerosis have not been established
, potential causes include changes in (i) plasma lipoprotein levels and/or
structure, (ii) cholesterol flux into or out of peripheral tissues (ovary,
aortic wall), and (iii) reverse cholesterol transport, as indicated by the
significant reduction of gallbladder bile cholesterol levels in SR-BI and S
R-BI/apolipoprotein E double knockout mice relative to controls. If SR-BI h
as similar activities in humans, it may become an attractive target for the
rapeutic intervention in a variety of diseases.