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High-resolution Respirometry to Measure Mitochondrial Function of Intact Beta Cells in the Presence of Natural Compounds
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Reverse cholesterol transport-related miRNAs and their regulation by natural functional compounds

Ziyang Lian1, Bobo Zhu1, Chuyuan Lei1

  • 1Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710072, China.

Current Protein & Peptide Science
|August 28, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Natural compounds targeting microRNAs involved in reverse cholesterol transport offer a promising strategy for preventing and treating atherosclerosis, a major cause of cardiovascular disease.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cardiovascular Research

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading global cause of mortality.
  • Atherosclerosis (AS), driven by abnormal cholesterol homeostasis and macrophage foam cell accumulation, is a primary contributor to CVD.
  • Reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) is crucial for removing excess cholesterol from macrophages and preventing AS progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate RCT.
  • To explore the potential of natural compounds in targeting RCT-related miRNAs for AS intervention.
  • To highlight a novel therapeutic strategy for AS prevention and treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on miRNAs, RCT, and atherosclerosis.
  • Analysis of natural compounds with known anti-atherosclerotic effects.
  • Identification of miRNAs involved in cholesterol homeostasis and RCT pathways.

Main Results:

  • MicroRNAs play significant roles in regulating gene expression during RCT.
  • Numerous natural compounds demonstrate the ability to modulate specific miRNAs implicated in RCT.
  • Targeting RCT-related miRNAs with natural compounds shows potential for mitigating AS.

Conclusions:

  • Modulating RCT-related miRNAs using natural compounds presents a safe and novel therapeutic avenue for AS.
  • This approach could lead to effective strategies for preventing and treating atherosclerosis.
  • Further research into natural compounds and their miRNA targets is warranted for cardiovascular health.

Keywords:
Reverse cholesterol transportatherosclerosishomeostasismacrophagemicroRNAnatural functional compounds.

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