microRNAs and cholesterol metabolism.
Cholesterol metabolism is tightly regulated at the cellular level. In addition to classic transcriptional regulation of cholesterol metabolism (e.g. by SREBP and LXR), members of a class of non-coding RNAs termed microRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been identified to be potent post-transcriptional regulators of lipid metabolism genes, including cholesterol homeostasis. We and others have recently shown that miR-33 regulates cholesterol efflux and HDL biogenesis by downregulating the expression of the ABC transporters, ABCA1 and ABCG1. In addition to miR-33, miR-122 and miR-370 have been shown to play important roles in regulating cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism. These new data suggest important roles of microRNAs in the epigenetic regulation of cholesterol metabolism and have opened new avenues for the treatment of dyslipidemias.
Moore
Kathryn J
KJ
Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. kathryn.moore@nyumc.org
Rayner
Katey J
KJ
Suárez
Yajaira
Y
Fernández-Hernando
Carlos
C
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D035683:MicroRNAs; D002784:Cholesterol