Liver X receptors and male (in)fertility
File(s)ijms-20-05379.pdf (1.98 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Jarvis, Sheba
Williamson, Catherine
Bevan, Charlotte
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Liver X receptors (LXRs) are ligand-dependent transcription factors acting as ‘cholesterol sensors’ to regulate lipid homeostasis in cells. The two isoforms, LXRα (NR1H3) and LXRβ (NR1H2), are differentially expressed, with the former expressed predominantly in metabolically active tissues and the latter more ubiquitously. Both are activated by oxidised cholesterol metabolites, endogenously produced oxysterols. LXRs have important roles in lipid metabolism and inflammation, plus a number of newly emerging roles. They are implicated in regulating lipid balance in normal male reproductive function and may provide a link between male infertility and lipid disorders and/or obesity. Studies from Lxr knockout mouse models provide compelling evidence to support this. More recently published data suggest distinct and overlapping roles of the LXR isoforms in the testis and recent evidence of a role for LXRs in human male fertility. This review summarises the current literature and explores the likely link between LXR, lipid metabolism and male fertility as part of a special issue on Liver X receptors in International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
Date Issued
2019-10-29
Date Acceptance
2019-10-24
Citation
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2019, 20 (21)
ISSN
1422-0067
Publisher
MDPI AG
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume
20
Issue
21
Copyright Statement
© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access
article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution
(CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution
(CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Sponsor
Wellcome Trust
Genesis Research Trust
Grant Number
102758/Z/13/Z
01070
Subjects
infertility
liver X receptors
oxysterols
steroidogenesis
testis
Chemical Physics
0399 Other Chemical Sciences
0604 Genetics
0699 Other Biological Sciences
Publication Status
Published
OA Location
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/21/5379
Article Number
ARTN 5379
Date Publish Online
2019-10-29