title: Dietary plant sterols accumulate in the brain.
abstract: Dietary plant sterols and cholesterol have a comparable chemical structure. It is generally assumed that cholesterol and plant sterols do not cross the blood-brain barrier, but quantitative data are lacking. Here, we report that mice deficient for ATP-binding cassette transporter G5 (Abcg5) or Abcg8, with strongly elevated serum plant sterol levels, display dramatically increased (7- to 16-fold) plant sterol levels in the brain. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient mice also displayed elevated serum plant sterol levels, which was however not associated with significant changes in brain plant sterol levels. Abcg5- and Abcg8-deficient mice were found to carry circulating plant sterols predominantly in high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-particles, whereas ApoE-deficient mice accommodated most of their serum plant sterols in very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-particles. This suggests an important role for HDL and/or ApoE in the transfer of plant sterols into the brain. Moreover, sitosterol upregulated apoE mRNA and protein levels in astrocytoma, but not in neuroblastoma cells, to a higher extend than cholesterol. In conclusion, dietary plant sterols pass the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the brain, where they may exert brain cell type-specific effects.
authors: Department of Molecular Cell Biology (Box 17), Research Institute Brain and Behaviour (EURON), University of Maastricht, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. p.jansen@molcelb.unimass.nl
authors: Paula J
authors: PJ
authors: Jansen
authors: Dieter
authors: D
authors: Lütjohann
authors: Karlygash
authors: K
authors: Abildayeva
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: Vanmierlo
authors: Torsten
authors: T
authors: Plösch
authors: Jogchum
authors: J
authors: Plat
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: von Bergmann
authors: Albert K
authors: AK
authors: Groen
authors: Frans C S
authors: FC
authors: Ramaekers
authors: Folkert
authors: F
authors: Kuipers
authors: Monique
authors: M
authors: Mulder