title: Can Cholesterol Metabolism Modulation Affect Brain Function and Behavior?
abstract: Cholesterol is an important component for cell physiology. It regulates the fluidity of cell membranes and determines the physical and biochemical properties of proteins. In the central nervous system, cholesterol controls synapse formation and function and supports the saltatory conduction of action potential. In recent years, the role of cholesterol in the brain has caught the attention of several research groups since a breakdown of cholesterol metabolism has been associated with different neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, and interestingly also with psychiatric conditions. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge about the connection between cholesterol dysregulation and various neurologic and psychiatric disorders based on clinical and preclinical studies. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 281-286, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Science, Biomedical and Biotechnology Section, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cartocci
authors.affiliation: Department of Science, Biomedical and Biotechnology Section, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Servadio
authors.affiliation: Department of Science, Biomedical and Biotechnology Section, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Trezza
authors.affiliation: Department of Science, Biomedical and Biotechnology Section, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy. valentina.pallottini@uniroma3.it.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pallottini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001519:Behavior; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol