| First Author | Jansen PJ | Year | 2006 |
| Journal | Biochim Biophys Acta | Volume | 1761 |
| Issue | 4 | Pages | 445-53 |
| PubMed ID | 16677856 | Mgi Jnum | J:112858 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3663841 | Doi | 10.1016/j.bbalip.2006.03.015 |
| Citation | Jansen PJ, et al. (2006) Dietary plant sterols accumulate in the brain. Biochim Biophys Acta 1761(4):445-53 |
| abstractText | 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. |
