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Molecules for health : cholesterol absorption and transporter proteins expression under the effect of bioactive molecules

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Resumo:High levels of cholesterol blood and accumulation of cholesterol in tissues are one of the major risk factors to cardiovascular disease. One of the main ways to reduce cholesterol levels is by adopting a healthy diet. The search for healthy and sustainable food has resulted in an increase in the consumption of algae. Fucus vesiculosus is a brown seaweed used in food all over the world. The objective of this work is to study the effect, at the molecular level, of the alga F. vesiculosus on the synthesis, transport and absorption of cholesterol and its interaction with proteins and metabolites involved in these processes. This work started by selecting the origin of the seaweed as well as the best method of extracting the bioactive compounds. The extract of F. vesiculosus from the north of Atlantic Ocean, extracted with water at 100 °C, in a process similar to a soup, and purified by solid phase extraction was the extract obtained with the highest number of bioactive compounds identified. This alga extract has showed a high potential in inhibiting, in vitro, the synthesis as well as the intestinal permeation of cholesterol. Omics studies have showed that the F. vesiculosus extract, in liver cells, in vitro, led to the increase of different lipid compounds, especially fatty acid amides, as well as to the inhibition of four proteins involved in the synthesis of cholesterol. Also in liver cells, the inhibition of both mRNA expression and protein expression of NPC1L1 was observed. Regarding the in vitro study with intestinal cells, this alga led to an increase in the expression of the NPC1 protein. Finally, the encapsulation of this extract in sodium alginate beads was successfully studied. The different results of this work make it possible to increase knowledge about the effect of F. vesiculosus on cholesterol homeostasis, opening doors to its use as a functional food.
Autores principais:André, Rebeca
Assunto:Moléculas bioativas Colesterol Alimento funcional Fucus vesiculosus Bioactive molecules Cholesterol Functional food
Ano:2023
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:tese de doutoramento
Tipo de acesso:acesso aberto
Instituição associada:Universidade de Lisboa
Idioma:inglês
Origem:Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa
Descrição
Resumo:High levels of cholesterol blood and accumulation of cholesterol in tissues are one of the major risk factors to cardiovascular disease. One of the main ways to reduce cholesterol levels is by adopting a healthy diet. The search for healthy and sustainable food has resulted in an increase in the consumption of algae. Fucus vesiculosus is a brown seaweed used in food all over the world. The objective of this work is to study the effect, at the molecular level, of the alga F. vesiculosus on the synthesis, transport and absorption of cholesterol and its interaction with proteins and metabolites involved in these processes. This work started by selecting the origin of the seaweed as well as the best method of extracting the bioactive compounds. The extract of F. vesiculosus from the north of Atlantic Ocean, extracted with water at 100 °C, in a process similar to a soup, and purified by solid phase extraction was the extract obtained with the highest number of bioactive compounds identified. This alga extract has showed a high potential in inhibiting, in vitro, the synthesis as well as the intestinal permeation of cholesterol. Omics studies have showed that the F. vesiculosus extract, in liver cells, in vitro, led to the increase of different lipid compounds, especially fatty acid amides, as well as to the inhibition of four proteins involved in the synthesis of cholesterol. Also in liver cells, the inhibition of both mRNA expression and protein expression of NPC1L1 was observed. Regarding the in vitro study with intestinal cells, this alga led to an increase in the expression of the NPC1 protein. Finally, the encapsulation of this extract in sodium alginate beads was successfully studied. The different results of this work make it possible to increase knowledge about the effect of F. vesiculosus on cholesterol homeostasis, opening doors to its use as a functional food.