Macrophage Liver X Receptor Is Required for Antiatherogenic Activity of LXR Agonists

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Abstract
Objective— Complications of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease due to elevated blood cholesterol levels are the major cause of death in the Western world. The liver X receptors, LXRα and LXRβ (LXRs), are ligand-dependent transcription factors that act as cholesterol sensors and coordinately control transcription of genes involved in cholesterol and lipid homeostasis as well as macrophage inflammatory gene expression. LXRs regulate cholesterol balance through activation of ATP-binding cassette transporters that promote cholesterol transport and excretion from the liver, intestine, and macrophage. Although LXR agonists are known to delay progression of atherosclerosis in mouse models, their ability to abrogate preexisting cardiovascular disease by inducing regression and stabilization of established atherosclerotic lesions has not been addressed.