Deficiency of ASGR1 in pigs recapitulates reduced risk factor for cardiovascular disease in humans

PLoS Genet. 2021 Nov 11;17(11):e1009891. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009891. eCollection 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Genetic variants in the asialoglycoprotein receptor 1 (ASGR1) are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in humans. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Given the cardiovascular similarities between pigs and humans, we generated ASGR1-deficient pigs using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. These pigs show age-dependent low levels of non-HDL-C under standard diet. When received an atherogenic diet for 6 months, ASGR1-deficient pigs show lower levels of non-HDL-C and less atherosclerotic lesions than that of controls. Furthermore, by analysis of hepatic transcriptome and in vivo cholesterol metabolism, we show that ASGR1 deficiency reduces hepatic de novo cholesterol synthesis by downregulating 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR), and increases cholesterol clearance by upregulating the hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), which together contribute to the low levels of non-HDL-C. Despite the cardioprotective effect, we unexpectedly observed mild to moderate hepatic injury in ASGR1-deficient pigs, which has not been documented in humans with ASGR1 variants. Thus, targeting ASGR1 might be an effective strategy to reduce hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis, whereas further clinical evidence is required to assess its hepatic impact.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asialoglycoprotein Receptor / genetics*
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Cholesterol / biosynthesis
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Risk Factors
  • Swine

Substances

  • ASGR1 protein, human
  • Asialoglycoprotein Receptor
  • Cholesterol

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32070602) and the Special Talent Recruitment Fund of Northwest A&F University to J.W., the National Key Research & Development Program of China (2017YFC1103702) to D.P., the National Key R & D Program of China (2020YFA0509500) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U19A2036) to M.L. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.