X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy mice demonstrate abnormalities in cholesterol metabolism

FEBS Lett. 2005 Oct 24;579(25):5512-6. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.09.014. Epub 2005 Sep 27.

Abstract

The neurodegenerative disorder X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is caused by ABCD1 mutations and characterized by very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) accumulation. Cholesterol-lowering normalized VLCFA in fibroblasts and plasma of X-ALD patients. We show that in cultured cells, cholesterol-loading induces ABCD1. In X-ALD mice, plasma cholesterol is elevated and not further increasable by cholesterol-feeding, whereas hepatic HMG-CoA reductase and Abcd2 are downregulated. Upon cholesterol modulation, brain VLCFA increased in X-ALD mice, but decreased in controls. In murine X-ALD fibroblasts, cholesterol-lowering did not normalize VLCFA. Thus, ALDP-deficiency and VLCFA are linked to cholesterol but species differences complicate evaluating cholesterol-lowering drugs in X-ALD mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D, Member 1
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics*
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / metabolism
  • Adrenoleukodystrophy / genetics
  • Adrenoleukodystrophy / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Cholesterol / metabolism*
  • Cholesterol / pharmacology
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism*
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / metabolism
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism

Substances

  • ABCD1 protein, human
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D, Member 1
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Fatty Acids
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Cholesterol
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/BC011106
  • GENBANK/MN008255