Diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in mice: Prevention by overexpression of LDL receptors

Article Abstract:

Diets high in cholesterol and saturated fats cause an increase in levels of low density lipoproteins (LDLs) in the blood. This increase in LDLs is due to increased synthesis of LDL particles, increased levels of cholesterol in precursor particles, and decreased breakdown, or degradation, of particles by the liver. The LDLs bind to the liver cells through LDL receptors, which mediate uptake and breakdown. It is known that when high levels of cholesterol are ingested, the levels of LDL receptors on liver cells are suppressed, which results in an increase in LDL levels and cholesterol in the blood. It is thought that increased expression of LDL receptors in the liver could prevent high levels of cholesterol and saturated fatty acids in the blood. Transgenic mice, or mice that have received a foreign gene during their embryonic development, were given the gene which encodes the human LDL receptor. The gene was genetically engineered so that it produced large amounts of the LDL receptor. Normal and transgenic mice were fed a high-fat diet containing cholesterol, saturated fat, and bile acids for three weeks. The normal mice showed an increase in LDL particles in the blood. However, the transgenic mice did not show an increase in LDL particles, indicative of increased uptake and removal of the cholesterol and the saturated fats. With an overproduction of the LDL receptor in the liver cells, the uptake of LDL was increased. This shows that overexpression of LDL receptors can prevent high levels of cholesterol resulting from a high-fat diet in the mice. It is hoped that manipulation of the levels and activity of the LDL receptors can be used in the future as a way to control the levels of cholesterol and fatty acids in the blood of humans. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Physiological aspects, Low density lipoproteins, Cholesterol, Blood cholesterol, Hyperlipidemia, Hypercholesterolemia, Genetically modified mice

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Current approaches to breast cancer prevention

Article Abstract:

Research projects are testing three possible factors in preventing breast cancer: low-fat diet, use of tamixofen in women at high risk of breast cancer and use of mammography to lower death rates.

Evaluation, Testing, Breast cancer, Low-fat diet, Low fat diet, Mammography, Tamoxifen

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