The role of β-carotene and vitamin A in atherogenesis: Evidences from pre-clinical and clinical studies. - GreenMedInfo Summary
The role ofβ-carotene and vitamin A in atherogenesis: Evidences from pre-clinical and clinical studies.
Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids. 2020 Jan 21:158635. Epub 2020 Jan 21. PMID: 31978554
Anthony P Miller
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the principal contributor to myocardial infarction, the leading cause of death worldwide. Epidemiological and mechanistic studies indicate thatβ-carotene and its vitamin A derivatives stimulate lipid catabolism in several tissues to reduce the incidence of obesity, but their roles within ASCVD are elusive. Herein, we review the mechanisms by which β-carotene and vitamin A modulate ASCVD. First, we summarize the current knowledge linkingthese nutrients with epidemiological studies and lipoprotein metabolism as one of the initiating factors of ASCVD. Next, we focus on different aspects of vitamin A metabolism in immune cells such as the mechanisms of carotenoid uptake and conversion to the vitamin A metabolite, retinoic acid. Lastly, we review the effects of retinoic acid on immuno-metabolism, differentiation, and function of macrophages and T cells, the two pillars of the innate and adaptive immune response in ASCVD, respectively. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Carotenoids recent advances in cell and molecular biology edited by Johannes von Lintig and Loredana Quadro.