The role of cholesterol in modifying the lipid-lowering effects of Fuzhuan brick-tea in Caenorhabditis elegans via SBP-1/SREBP

Abstract

Fuzhuan brick-tea (FZT) has long been consumed for its supposed weight loss and lipid-lowering benefits. In this study, we show that the regulation of fat storage in Caenorhabditis elegans from a water extract of FZT was affected by cholesterol levels. We found that FZT significantly decreased fat storage under normal cholesterol levels or in a cholesterol-free diet, while lipid accumulation was increased for a high cholesterol diet. Moreover, this mechanism may involve the conserved sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)/mediator-15 (MDT-15) signaling pathway and the nuclear hormone receptor NHR-80. In addition, lipid synthesis-related genes inhibited by FZT were partially affected by a cholesterol-free diet. Thus, our findings suggested that the potential lipid-lowering effects of FZT may depend on the cholesterol level, which may help to improve the consumption of FZT.

Keywords

• Fuzhuan brick tea
• Cholesterol
• Fat storage
• SREBP