Review
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World J Cardiol. Jun 26, 2010; 2(6): 140-149
Published online Jun 26, 2010. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v2.i6.140
Coronary heart disease: Significance of liver X receptor α genomics
Vivek Priy Dave, Deepak Kaul
Vivek Priy Dave, Deepak Kaul, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
Author contributions: Dave VP wrote the paper under the guidance of Kaul D.
Correspondence to: Deepak Kaul, Professor and Head, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India. dkaul_24@hotmail.com
Telephone: +91-172-2755228 Fax: +91-172-2744401
Received: May 18, 2010
Revised: June 11, 2010
Accepted: June 18, 2010
Published online: June 26, 2010
Abstract

Crosstalk between lipid peroxidation and inflammation is known to be a pathognomonic feature for the development of coronary heart disease (CHD). In this regard ligand activated liver X receptor (LXR)-α has emerged as a key molecular switch by its inherent ability to modulate an array of genes involved in these two fundamental cellular processes. In addition, LXR-α has also been found to play a role in hepatic lipogenesis and innate immunity. Although several lines of evidence in experimental model systems have established the atheroprotective nature of LXR-α, human subjects have been reported to possess a paradoxical situation in which increased blood cellular LXR-α gene expression is always accompanied by increased coronary occlusion. This apparent paradox was resolved recently by the finding that CHD patients possess a deregulated LXR-α transcriptome due to impaired ligand-receptor interaction. This blood cellular mutated LXR-α gene expression correlated specifically with the extent of coronary occlusion and hence need is felt to devise new synthetic ligands that could restore the function of this mutated LXR-α protein in order to modulate genes involved in reverse cholesterol transport and suppression of the inflammatory response leading to the effective treatment of CHD.

Keywords: Coronary heart disease; Liver X receptor; Lipid metabolism; Inflammation