Liver X Receptors and their Agonists: Targeting for Cholesterol Homeostasis and Cardiovascular Diseases

Liver X receptors α (LXRα) and β (LXRβ) are essential for protection against cardiovascular diseases. LXRs are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily of DNA-binding transcription factors and act as sensors of cholesterol homeostasis. In this review, we introduce LXRs and briefly describe the roles of LXRs in reverse cholesterol transport and trans-intestinal cholesterol efflux. We discuss LXR agonists and the downstream genes of LXRs that are involved in the regulation of cholesterol transport. In addition, we describe the cardioprotective effects of LXRs against atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and myocardial hypertrophy. Finally, we expand our discussion to the actions of LXRs in atherosclerosis and suggest several potential research avenues that may be of interest to clinicians and basic scientists. The information included herein may be useful for the design of future experimental research studies and may advance the investigation of LXRs as therapeutic targets.