title: The niemann-pick disease genes; regulators of cellular cholesterol homeostasis.
abstract: Cellular cholesterol homeostasis is maintained through activation of the designated sterol regulatory element binding proteins and liver X receptor transcriptional pathways. Insight into the molecular mechanisms that regulate these pathways has come from the study of Niemann-Pick C (NPC) disease. Mutations in the NPC1 and NPC2 disease genes lead to lysosomal accumulation of cholesterol and defects in regulation of sterol homeostatic responses. NPC1 and NPC2 are key participants in intracellular cholesterol trafficking and are required for production of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-derived oxysterols. In this review, the function of NPC1 and NPC2 in sterol trafficking and regulation of cholesterol homeostasis is examined. Study of the NPC proteins will further understanding of the mechanisms involved in atherogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Daniel S. Ory is at the Center for Cardiovascular Research, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. dory@wustl.edu
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ory
mesh_terms: D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D009154:Mutation; D000077296:Niemann-Pick C1 Protein; D009542:Niemann-Pick Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000502:physiology; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
chemical_list: D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008074:Lipoproteins; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C106881:NPC1 protein, human; C104585:NPC2 protein, human; D000077296:Niemann-Pick C1 Protein; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; C497387:SREBF1 protein, human; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D002784:Cholesterol