A new study reveals that immune cells in the liver react to high cholesterol levels and eat up excess cholesterol that can otherwise cause damage to arteries. The findings, published in Nature Cardiovascular Research, suggest that the response to the onset of atherosclerosis begins in the liver.
Immediate response from the liver
In the current study, researchers from Karolinska Institutet wanted to understand how different tissues in the body react to high levels of LDL, commonly called ‘bad cholesterol’, in the blood.
To test this, they created a system where they could quickly increase the cholesterol in the blood of mice.
“Essentially, we wanted to detonate a cholesterol bomb and see what happened next,” says Stephen Malin, lead author of the study and principal researcher at the Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet.
“We found that the liver responded almost immediately and removed some of the excess cholesterol.”
However, it wasn’t the typical liver cells that responded, but a type of immune cell called Kupffer cells that are known for recognising foreign or harmful substances and eating them up. The discovery made in mice was also validated in human tissue samples.
“We were surprised to see that the liver seems to be the first line of defence against excess cholesterol and that the Kupffer cells were the ones doing the job,” says Stephen Malin.
“This shows that the liver immune system is an active player in regulating cholesterol levels, and suggests that atherosclerosis is a systemic disease that affects multiple organs and not just the arteries.”
Several organs could be involved
The researchers hope that by understanding how the liver and other tissues communicate with each other after being exposed to high cholesterol, they can find new ways to prevent or treat cardiovascular and liver diseases.
“Our next step is to look at how other organs respond to excess cholesterol, and how they interact with the liver and the blood vessels in atherosclerosis,” says Stephen Malin. “This could help us develop more holistic and effective strategies to combat this common and deadly disease.”
Source: Karolinska Institutet
