[Basic mechanisms: absorption and excretion of cholesterol and other sterols].
Cholesterol is of vital importance for vertebrate cell membrane structure and function. It is obvious that adequate regulation of cholesterol homeostasis is essential. Hypercholesterolemia promotes atherosclerosis and thereby represents a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The liver has been considered the major site of control in maintenance of cholesterol homeostasis. The liver facilitates clearance of (very) low density lipoprotein particles and cholesterol-containing chylomicron remnants, synthesizes cholesterol, synthesizes and secretes (nascent) high density lipoprotein particles, secretes cholesterol and bile salts to bile, and is involved in reverse cholesterol transport. In recent years, however, the importance of the intestine in many aspects of cholesterol physiology is increasingly recognized. It has become apparent that direct secretion of cholesterol from the blood compartment into the intestine, or transintestinal cholesterol excretion, plays a major role in disposal of cholesterol via the feces. This review will discuss current knowledge on the physiology of cholesterol homeostasis, with emphasis on cholesterol absorption, cholesterol synthesis and fecal excretion, and therapeutic options for hypercholesterolemia.
Unidad de Lípidos, Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición-ICMDM, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBER obn),, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: MCOFAN@clinic.ub.es.
Montserrat
M
Cofan Pujol
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D013261:Sterols / Q000378:metabolism
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D013261:Sterols; D002784:Cholesterol
Absorción de colesterol; Cholesterol synthesis, Cholesterol absorption, Cholesterol excretion, Transintestinal cholesterol excretion, Reverse cholesterol transport; Excreción de colesterol; Excreción transintestinal de colesterol; Síntesis de colesterol; Transporte reverso de colesterol