Cholesterol signaling

This effect was observed with phospholipase D. In the brain, astrocytes make the cholesterol and transport it to nerves to control their function.

These interactions can affect protein conformation, stability, and function, thereby influencing various cellular processes like signal transduction, membrane trafficking, and enzyme activity.

[11] The regulation of ion channels by cholesterol can stem from both direct binding interactions and an indirect influence, facilitated by the localization of palmitoylated residues within lipid rafts.

It's important to note that these two mechanisms are not mutually exclusive; they can concurrently contribute to the modulation of ion channel activity and localization.

Proposed mechanisms for this phenomenon encompass alterations in membrane thickness and the concentration of lipid molecules critical for signaling.

[15] High cholesterol induces APP hydrolysis and the eventual accumulation of amyloid plaques tau phosphorylation.

The ApoE isotype4 is the greatest risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's and this allele was shown to increase cholesterol in mice.

Notably, SARS-CoV-2 has been demonstrated to leverage heightened cholesterol levels stemming from an immune response, thereby amplifying endocytosis and infectivity.

A class of drugs called statins blocks cholesterol synthesis and is used extensively in treating heart disease.

More importantly, the ability to efflux cholesterol through ABC transporters was shown to attenuate (i.e., shut down) the inflammatory response.