Ligand-dependent contribution of RXRbeta to cholesterol homeostasis in Sertoli cells

• Published in: EMBO reports (ISSN: 1469-221X), vol. 5, num. 3, p. 285-90
• Publication date: 2004

We show that mice expressing retinoid X receptor beta (RXRbeta) impaired in its transcriptional activation function AF-2 (Rxrb(af20) mutation) do not display the spermatid release defects observed in RXRbeta-null mutants, indicating that the role of RXRbeta in spermatid release is ligand-independent. In contrast, like RXRbeta-null mutants, Rxrb(af20) mice accumulate cholesteryl esters in Sertoli cells (SCs) due to reduced ABCA1 transporter-mediated cholesterol efflux. We provide genetic and molecular evidence that cholesterol homeostasis in SCs does not require PPARalpha and beta, but depends upon the TIF2 coactivator and RXRbeta/LXRbeta heterodimers, in which RXRbeta AF-2 is transcriptionally active. Our results also indicate that RXRbeta may be activated by a ligand distinct from 9-cis retinoic acid.

Reference

• NCEM-ARTICLE-2004-004
• doi:10.1038/sj.embor.7400094
• View record in PubMed

Record created on 2009-04-02, modified on 2017-05-12