Reducing of LXRβ and PPARγ mRNA in M-CSF stimulated macrophages in patients with levels atherosclerosis

Nuclear receptors LXRα/β and PPARγ play an important role in lipid metabolism and reverse cholesterol transport. However, the influence of LXRα/β and PPARγ mRNA levels in macrophages on atherosclerosis remains unexplored. Using real time PCR, we determined LXRα mRNA, LXRβ mRNA and PPARγ mRNA levels in macrophages cultured for 5 days with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Levels of LXRβ mRNA and PPARγ mRNA in patients with arterial stenosis were reduced when compared with the control group, p 0.001. LXRa gene mRNA level in macrophages was not changed in the study groups, (p = 0.17). Thus, our study shows that the LXRβ and PPARγ genes expression levels in macrophages may be significant factors associated with the development of atherosclerosis.