Impaired cholesterol metabolism in the mouse model of cystic fibrosis. A preliminary study

PLoS One. 2021 Jan 7;16(1):e0245302. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245302. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

This study aims to investigate cholesterol metabolism in a mouse model with cystic fibrosis (CF) by the comparison of affected homozygous versus wild type (WT) mice. In particular, we evaluated the effects of a diet enriched with cholesterol in both mice groups in comparison with the normal diet. To this purpose, beyond serum and liver cholesterol, we analyzed serum phytosterols as indirect markers of intestinal absorption of cholesterol, liver lathosterol as indirect marker of de novo cholesterol synthesis, liver cholestanol (a catabolite of bile salts synthesis) and the liver mRNA levels of LDL receptor (LDLR), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoAR), acyl CoA:cholesterol acyl transferase 2 (ACAT2), cytochrome P450 7A1 (CYP7A1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). CF mice showed lower intestinal absorption and higher liver synthesis of cholesterol than WT mice. In WT mice, the cholesterol supplementation inhibits the synthesis of liver cholesterol and enhances its catabolism, while in CF mice we did not observe a reduction of LDLR and HMG-CoAR expression (probably due to an altered feed-back), causing an increase of intracellular cholesterol. In addition, we observed a further increase (5-fold) in TNFα mRNA levels. This preliminary study suggests that in CF mice there is a vicious circle in which the altered synthesis/secretion of bile salts may reduce the digestion/absorption of cholesterol. As a result, the liver increases the biosynthesis of cholesterol that accumulates in the cells, triggering inflammation and further compromising the metabolism of bile salts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cholesterol / metabolism*
  • Cystic Fibrosis / genetics
  • Cystic Fibrosis / metabolism
  • Cystic Fibrosis / pathology*
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / genetics*
  • Female
  • Homozygote
  • Lipid Metabolism*
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Metabolic Clearance Rate
  • Mice
  • Mutation*
  • Steroid Hydroxylases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cftr protein, mouse
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator
  • Cholesterol
  • Steroid Hydroxylases

Grants and funding

GCa: Quota vincolata per la prevenzione e cura della Fibrosi Cistica L. 548/94, Ricerca. FSN 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Regione Campania. http://www.regione.campania.it/ The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.