Brown seaweeds activating liver X receptors: Potential role in the prevention of neurodegenerative and cardiometabolic diseases

Background and Aims : Liver X receptors (LXRa/β) are transcription factors that are key in the regulation of cholesterol homeostasis and inflammatory processes. LXR are a therapeutical target for cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder for which no effective therapy is available yet. We reported that activation of LXR by synthetic agonists restores cognitive decline in AD mice. Because of the hepatosteatosis and hypertriglyceridemia, induced by synthetic agonists, we are testing LXR-activating phytosterols that do not induce such side effects. We demonstrated that a lipophilic-extract of the Asian brown seaweed Sargassum fusiforme, containing the LXR-activating oxyphytosterol 24(S)-saringosterol, prevents cognitive decline in AD mice. We aimed at identifying European and Dutch brown seaweeds with LXR-activating capacities.