title: Lipid research. Possible new way to lower cholesterol.
abstract: Clinicians may soon be able to mount a multipronged attack against cholesterol, the artery-clogging lipid whose buildup in the body is a major contributor to heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases. In work reported on page 1524, a team has pinpointed a biological master switch in mice that controls three pathways that work together to both rid the body of excess cholesterol and prevent its absorption from the intestine. The work suggests a new mechanism for reducing cholesterol, for example, with drugs that turn up the activity of the master switch, a protein known as the retinoid X receptor.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ferber
mesh_terms: D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated
chemical_list: D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002784:Cholesterol; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated