Loss of functional farnesoid X receptor increases atherosclerotic lesions in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Elyisha A. Hanniman, Gilles Lambert, Tanya C. McCarthy, Christopher J. Sinal

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

157 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a bile acid-activated transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes critical for bile acid and lipid homeostasis. This study was undertaken to investigate the pathological consequences of the loss of FXR function on the risk and severity of atherosclerosis. For this purpose, FXR-deficient (FXR-/-) mice were crossed with apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice to generate FXR-/- ApoE-/- mice. Challenging these mice with a high-fat, high-cholesterol (HF/HC) diet resulted in reduced weight gain and decreased survival compared with wild-type, FXR-/-, and ApoE -/- mice. FXR-/- ApoE-/- mice also had the highest total plasma lipids and the most atherogenic lipoprotein profile. Livers from FXR-/- and FXR-/- ApoE-/- mice exhibited marked lipid accumulation, focal necrosis (accompanied by increased levels of plasma aspartate aminotransferase), and increased inflammatory gene expression. Measurement of en face lesion area of HF/HC-challenged mice revealed that although FXR-/- mice did not develop atherosclerosis, FXR -/- ApoE-/- mice had approximately double the lesion area compared with ApoE-/- mice. In conclusion, loss of FXR function is associated with decreased survival, increased severity of defects in lipid metabolism, and more extensive aortic plaque formation in a mouse model of atherosclerotic disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2595-2604
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Lipid Research
Volume46
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2005

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Endocrinology
  • Cell Biology

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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