Alliin Regulates Intracellular Cholesterol Metabolism Through the PCSK9/LDLR Axis in Ox-LDL-Induced HepG2 Cells: A...

This study focuses on alliin, a bioactive compound derived from garlic, and investigates its underlying mechanisms through a proteomics-based approach. In HepG2 cells, alliin significantly reduced intracellular total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Tandem mass tag-based quantitative proteomic analysis identified 67 differentially expressed proteins (53 upregulated, 14 downregulated). Bioinformatics enrichment revealed these proteins were primarily involved in cholesterol metabolism, the PPAR signaling pathway, and the PI3K/Akt pathway. Notably, alliin significantly upregulated low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) expression while downregulating proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). Western blot validation confirmed that alliin modulates the PCSK9/LDLR pathway. In conclusion, alliin influences intracellular cholesterol metabolism in HepG2 cells, potentially through regulation of the PCSK9/LDLR pathway. These findings provide mechanistic insights at the cellular level and suggest that alliin may serve as a candidate compound for further investigation in the context of lipid metabolism-related disorders.