Dietary plant sterols accumulate in the brain.
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.
Jansen
Paula J
PJ
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
Lütjohann
Dieter
D
Abildayeva
Karlygash
K
Vanmierlo
Tim
T
Plösch
Torsten
T
Plat
Jogchum
J
von Bergmann
Klaus
K
Groen
Albert K
AK
Ramaekers
Frans C S
FC
Kuipers
Folkert
F
Mulder
Monique
M