Development of an analytical methodology to evaluate the ability of HDL to deliver cholesterol ester to hepatic cells

• Grant number: 19/12994-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2019
• End date: June 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Metabolism and Bioenergetics
• Principal Investigator: Graziella Eliza Ronsein
• Grantee: Rebeca Jacinto Bonfim
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/00696-3 - Proteomic as a tool to understand HDL function and composition, AP.JP

Abstract

Among the plasma lipoproteins, high-density lipoprotein(HDL) is responsible for removing excess cholesterol from macrophages in the artery walls in a process called reverse cholesterol transport. After removing cholesterol from periphery, HDL must deliver it to hepatic cells to be excreted via the bile. This process occurs via scavenger receptor B1 (SRB1), which receives cholesterol ester from HDL particles. This step is critical to evaluate HDL function. However, an analytical methodology able to measure HDL capacity to deliver cholesterol to liver cells is still lacking. In this work, we aim to develop a method to quantify the ability of HDL to deliver cholesterol to hepatic cells. With this aim, we will use cultured hepatic cells and we will measure free and total cholesterol using a fluorescence assay.