Regulation of cholesterol/lipid homeostasis by microRNA-33a/b

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Accurate regulation of cholesterol/lipid homeostasis is essential to human health. Indeed, high circulating LDL- to-HDL ratios and elevated triglycerides are associated with metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). An improved understanding of the regulatory mechanisms governing circulating levels of HDL and triglycerides could yield novel therapeutic avenues to combat cardiometabolic disorders. We recently made the surprising discovery that the human SREBP-1 and -2 genes encoding key transcriptional regulators of cholesterol/lipid biosynthesis harbor intronic microRNAs (miR-33b and miR-33a, respectively). Intriguingly, miR-33a/b represent key inhibitors of the ABCA1 cholesterol transporter and HDL synthesis to boost intracellular cholesterol levels, and injection of antisense oligonucleotides directed against miR-33a significantly increases HDL levels in mice on a western-type diet. We propose here to test the hypothesis that miR-33a/b represent central regulators of multiple aspects of mammalian cholesterol/lipid metabolism, in close cooperation with the SREBP host genes. Both in vitro cell culture and in vivo studies in mice and non-human primates will provide key mechanistic insights into the role of miR-33a/b in targeting entire pathways guiding lipid and energy homeostasis, and whether miR-33a/b may be suitable for therapeutic targeting to raise circulating HDL and lower plasma triglycerides in metabolic syndrome patients.