title: Cholesterol modulates LRP5 expression in the vessel wall.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Macrophages are key players in atherosclerotic lesion formation and progression. We have recently demonstrated that lipid-loaded macrophages show activation of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway.
  
  
  METHODS
  To test the in vivo role of the canonical Wnt pathway in atherosclerosis we used mice deficient in the Wnt signaling receptor LRP5 (LRP5(-/-)) fed a hypercholesterolemic diet (HC) to induce atherosclerosis. These dietary groups were further subdivided into two subgroups receiving their respective diets supplemented with 2% plant sterol esters (PSE). All mice remained on their assigned diets until age 18 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HC WT mice had mildly increased non-HDL cholesterol levels, developed aortic atherosclerotic lesions and showed upregulated expression levels of aortic Lrp5. HC LRP5(-/-) mice develop larger aortic atherosclerotic lesions than WT mice indicating that LRP5 has a protective function in atherosclerosis progression. The oral administration of PSE, a dietary cholesterol-lowering agent, had an effect in the expression levels of the Wnt signaling receptor and in atherosclerosis progression. We found that PSE reduced serum total cholesterol levels, abolished HC-induced LRP5 overexpression and reduced aortic atherosclerotic plaques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proatherogenic effects of the excess of plasma lipids are in part mediated by modulation of LRP5 in the aorta. LRP5 and canonical Wnt signaling exert a protective defense mechanism against hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis lesion progression.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, CSIC-ICCC, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, IIB-Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borrell-Pages
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, CSIC-ICCC, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, IIB-Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, CSIC-ICCC, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, IIB-Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain; Cardiovascular Research Chair, UAB, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: lbadimon@csic-iccc.org.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Badimon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000517:prevention & control; D060492:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000517:prevention & control; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D060492:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5; C555483:Lrp5 protein, mouse; D010840:Phytosterols; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Hypercholesterolemia; LRP5; Macrophages; Plant sterol esters; Wnt pathway