Public Defence: Katrine Bjune - Molecular Cell Biology

M.Sc. Katrine Bjune at Institute of Clinical Medicine will be defending the thesis “Regulation of low-density lipoprotein receptor expression by AKT signaling” for the degree of PhD (Philosophiae Doctor).

Photo: Paal Audestad, Nasjonalforeningen for folkehelsen

Trial Lecture – time and place

See Trial Lecture.

Adjudication committee

  • First opponent: Professor Noam Zelcer, Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Second opponent: Researcher Cathrine Rein Carlson, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo
  • Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor Kirsten Bjørklund Holven, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo

Chair of the Defence

Professor Anne Simonsen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo

Principal Supervisor

Researcher Soheil Naderi, Oslo University Hospital

Summary

The presence of high blood cholesterol levels, hypercholesterolemia, is a significant contributing factor in the development of coronary heart disease, a condition that is the leading cause of death for both women and men in industrialized countries. Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) plays a crucial role in the uptake of cholesterol from the blood. Therefore, up-regulation of LDLR is a useful strategy for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. We have studied the interplay between the AKT signaling pathway and LDLR expression and show that inhibition of AKT activity exerts a potent stimulating effect on LDLR levels by both increasing the transcriptional activity of the LDLR gene and decreasing the LDLR mRNA decay rate.

Additional information

Contact the research support staff.

Published Mar. 15, 2019 10:03 AM - Last modified Mar. 15, 2019 10:31 AM