title: Effects of oxysterols on the blood-brain barrier: implications for Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Altered brain cholesterol homeostasis plays a key role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). For a long time, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was basically considered as a barrier isolating the brain from circulating cholesterol, however, several lines of evidence now suggest that the BBB strictly regulates the exchanges of sterol between the brain and the peripheral circulation. Oxysterols, synthesized by neurons or by peripheral cells, cross the BBB easily and modulate the expression of several enzymes, receptors and transporters which are involved not only in cholesterol metabolism but also in other brain functions. This review article deals with the way oxysterols impact BBB cells. These perspectives open new routes for designing certain therapeutical approaches that target the BBB so that the onset and/or progression of brain diseases such as AD may be modulated.
authors.affiliation: Univ. Lille Nord de France, Lille, France; UArtois, LBHE, EA 2465, Lens, France; IMPRT-IFR114, Lille, France. Electronic address: fabien.gosselet@univ-artois.fr.
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gosselet
authors.affiliation: Univ. Lille Nord de France, Lille, France; UArtois, LBHE, EA 2465, Lens, France; IMPRT-IFR114, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saint-Pol
authors.affiliation: Univ. Lille Nord de France, Lille, France; UArtois, LBHE, EA 2465, Lens, France; IMPRT-IFR114, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fenart
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006888:Hydroxycholesterols; C076996:27-hydroxycholesterol; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: ABCA1; ABCB1; Alzheimer’s disease; Blood–brain barrier; LXR; Oxysterols