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Dietary compounds have potential in controlling atherosclerosis by modulating macrophage cholesterol metabolism and

Dongyan Shao1, Ziyang Lian1, Yichao Di1

  • 11Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi West Road, Xi'an, 710072 Shaanxi China.

NPJ Science of Food
|July 16, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Dietary compounds can inhibit atherosclerosis (AS) by targeting specific microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in cholesterol metabolism and inflammation. This review explores dietary compounds, miRNAs, and their roles in AS therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Science
  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis (AS) is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, initiated by cholesterol-laden macrophages in artery walls.
  • Dysregulated cholesterol influx/efflux in macrophages and inflammation significantly promote AS development.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in regulating macrophage cholesterol metabolism and inflammation in AS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current literature on dietary compounds targeting miRNAs for atherosclerosis (AS) therapy.
  • To investigate the mechanisms by which dietary compounds influence macrophage cholesterol metabolism and inflammation via miRNAs.
  • To identify challenges and guide future research in this therapeutic area.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating dietary compounds, miRNAs, and atherosclerosis.
  • Analysis of miRNA targets involved in cholesterol metabolism (e.g., ABCA1, ABCG1) and inflammation (e.g., NF-κB, Nrf2, PI3K/AKT pathways).
  • Identification of specific miRNAs (e.g., miR-19b, miR-378, miR-10b, miR-33a/b, miR-155, miR-146a) modulated by dietary compounds.

Main Results:

  • Dietary compounds inhibit AS by targeting miRNAs involved in cholesterol metabolism (miR-19b, miR-378, miR-10b, miR-33a/b) and inflammation (miR-155, miR-146a).
  • While cholesterol-related miRNA targets vary among compounds, miR-155 is a common target in inflammation signaling.
  • Key receptors (ABCA1, ABCG1) and signaling pathways (NF-κB, Nrf2, PI3K/AKT) are modulated by miRNAs in macrophages.

Conclusions:

  • Dietary compounds offer a promising therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis by modulating specific miRNA pathways.
  • Targeting miRNAs involved in both cholesterol metabolism and inflammation presents a multifaceted approach to AS treatment.
  • Further research is needed to overcome existing challenges and optimize dietary compound-mediated miRNA therapies for AS.

Keywords:
Cardiovascular diseasesNutrition

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