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Updated: May 20, 2026

Cholesterol Efflux Assay
07:54

Cholesterol Efflux Assay

Published on: March 6, 2012

The response of the prostate to circulating cholesterol: activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) as a prominent node

Jayoung Kim1, Dolores Di Vizio, Taek-Kyun Kim

  • 1Division of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, Departments of Surgery and Biomedical Sciences, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA. Jayoung.Kim@cshs.org

Plos One
|July 7, 2012
PubMed

Insights

High cholesterol impacts prostate health by altering gene expression and cell proliferation. This study identifies ATF3 as a key regulator in the prostate's response to cholesterol, offering new insights into prostate health.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Cell biology
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • Elevated circulating cholesterol is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.
  • The prostate's response to cholesterol level variations is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular and cellular effects of altered cholesterol levels on the normal prostate.
  • To identify key molecular players and pathways involved in cholesterol sensing in the prostate.

Main Methods:

  • Integrated bioinformatic analysis of DNA microarray data from mice with high cholesterol and human prostate cells with cholesterol depletion.
  • Construction of a cholesterol-sensitive gene expression network.
  • Validation experiments to assess ATF3 expression and prostate cell proliferation.

Main Results:

  • A cholesterol-sensitive gene network was constructed, highlighting ATF3 as a key node.
  • Elevated cholesterol reduced ATF3 expression and increased prostate cell proliferation.
  • Cholesterol depletion increased ATF3 levels and inhibited proliferation.
  • In vivo cholesterol reduction decreased periprostatic inflammation.

Conclusions:

  • ATF3 acts as a cholesterol sensor in the prostate, regulating cell proliferation.
  • Cholesterol levels significantly influence prostate molecular and cellular functions.
  • Findings provide novel insights into cholesterol's role in prostate health and disease.

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