The discovery by the Swansea and Karolinska groups, which is published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, show that receptors known as 'liver X receptors' or LXR, are necessary for the development and survival of different types of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain. One of these types, motor neurons, are the nerve cells which project out from the brain to control muscles.

What was not known, however, was which molecules stimulate LXR in brain, to regulate the balance between survival and death of motor neurons.

The collaboration between the Stockholm group, who are experts in molecular/developmental biology, and scientists in Swansea, who are expert in the use of mass spectrometry to identify biomolecules, has led to the discovery of two cholesterol-like molecules that bind to LXR.

One molecule named 3β,7α-dihydroxycholestenoic acid (3β,7α-diHCA) promoted motor neuron survival in an LXR-dependent manner. The other molecule, 3β-hydroxycholestenoic acid (3β-HCA) caused motor neuron loss in an LXR-independent manner. Most importantly, 3β,7α-diHCA prevented the loss of motor neurons induced by 3β-HCA. 

Dr Yuqin Wang of Swansea University’s College of Medicine and senior author on the paper said: “One important conclusion of the study is that 3β,7α-diHCA promotes the survival of motor neurons, the cell type that dies in motor neuron disease. This finding opens the possibility of using cholesterol-type molecules in future treatments of motor neuron disorders.”

More information about the research can be viewed here