Regulation Of Macrophage Cholesterol Efflux And Liver X Receptor A Activation By Nicotine

Objective: This study aims to investigate the characteristics of liver X receptor a (LXRa) and its target gene expression, as well as cholesterol efflux in human macrophages treated by nicotine. Methods: Human monocytederived macrophages were collected. Before apoA-I-mediated human monocyte-derived macrophage cholesterol efflux, and mRNA expression of LXRa, and some of its target genes being detected, the macrophages were induced with or without nicotine. Results: Pre-incubation of Human monocyte-derived macrophages with nicotine, cholesterol efflux was suppressed to apolipoprotein Al. Nicotine also inhibited LXRaand some of its target genes mRNA expression involved cholesterol metabolism, and facilitated some inflammatory genes expression. Conclusion: The changed function of cholesterol efflux and some genes expression may be the pathogenetic cause, and LXR activity of macrophage may offer potential therapeutic benefit in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Thus nicotine can regulate foam cell formation by inhibiting LXR pathway.