Intestine-specific DGAT1 deficiency improves atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knockout mice by reducing systemic cholesterol burden

Acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) is the rate-limiting enzyme catalyzing the final step of triglyceride (TG) synthesis by esterifying a diglyceride with a fatty acid. We have previously shown that apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE-/-) mice lacking Dgat1 have reduced intestinal cholesterol absorption and potentiated macrophage cholesterol efflux, and consequently, exhibit attenuated atherogenesis. However, hematopoietic Dgat1 deficiency lacked beneficial effects on atherosclerosis. Due to our recent results on the critical role of intestinal Dgat1 in murine cholesterol homeostasis, we delineated whether intestinal Dgat1 deficiency regulates atherogenesis in mice.

Source: Atherosclerosis - August 8, 2020 Category: Cardiology Authors: Nemanja Vujic, Melanie Korbelius, Vinay Sachdev, Silvia Rainer, Andreas Zimmer, Anton Huber, Branislav Radovic, Dagmar Kratky Source Type: research