October 1, 2002Journal of Clinical Investigation
Consequences of cellular cholesterol accumulation: basic concepts and physiological implications
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Implication
Narrative review reveals cellular consequences of cholesterol accumulation across human cells, highlighting the critical role of acyltransferase enzymes.
Key Points
- Review the basic biochemical mechanisms governing cellular cholesterol balance and explore the physiological consequences of intracellular cholesterol accumulation.
- Synthesized molecular and biochemical evidence regarding intracellular cholesterol storage, transport, and esterification.
- Analyzed key regulatory systems, including acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity and intracellular lipid-trafficking pathways.
- Excess unesterified cellular cholesterol promotes membrane dysfunction, organelle stress, and cytotoxicity when regulatory thresholds are exceeded.
- Enzymatic conversion of free cholesterol to cholesteryl esters functions as a primary protective mechanism to mitigate intracellular lipotoxicity.
- Impairments in lipid esterification or intracellular trafficking pathways are centrally linked to progressive metabolic and lysosomal storage disorders.
Cite This Study
Ira Tabas (2002) studied this question.