Cholesterol homeostasis in cardiovascular disease and recent advances in measuring cholesterol signatures. Issue 153 (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Seo, Hong Seog; Choi, Man Ho
• Is Part Of: Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology. Issue 153(2015)
• Page Start: 72
• Page End: 79
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Cholesterol -- Homeostasis -- Cardiovascular disease -- Atherogenesis -- Mass spectrometry; Steroid hormones -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Hormones -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; Hormones stéroïdes -- Périodiques; Steroid hormones; Periodicals; 572.579
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2015.04.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-0760

Abstract

Highlights: Abnormal cholesterol metabolism can lead to cardiovascular diseases. Cellular cholesterol is toxic at excessive levels. Excessive cholesterol is transferred to the liver for metabolism and excretion. Homeostatic regulation may not be controlled in disease conditions. Identification of biomarkers in cholesterol homeostasis should be addressed. Abstract: Despite the biochemical importance of cholesterol, its abnormal metabolism has serious cellular consequences that lead to endocrine disorders such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nevertheless, the impact of blood cholesterol as a CVD risk factor is still debated, and treatment with cholesterol-lowering drugs remains controversial, particularly in older patients. Although, the prevalence of CVD increases with age, the underlying mechanisms for this phenomenon are not well understood, and metabolic changes have not been confirmed as predisposing factors of atherogenesis. The quantification of circulating biomarkers for cholesterol homeostasis is therefore warranted, and reference values for cholesterol absorption and synthesis should be determined in order to establish CVD risk factors. The traditional lipid profile is often derived rather than directly measured and lacks a universal standard to interpret the results. In contrast, mass spectrometry-based cholesterol profiling can accurately measure free cholesterol as a biologically active component. This approach allows to detect alterations in various metabolic pathways that control cholesterol homeostasis, by quantitative analysis of cholesterol and its precursors/metabolites as well as dietary sterols. An overview of the mechanism of cholesterol homeostasis under different physiological conditions may help to identify predictive biomarkers of concomitant atherosclerosis and conventional CVD risk factors.