Hepatic Cholesterol Homeostasis

Sex differences in hepatic regulation of cholesterol homeostasis.

Physiological sex differences may influence metabolic status and then alter the onset of some diseases. According to recent studies, it is now well established that females are more protected from hypercholesterolemia-related diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases until menopause. Female protection from hypercholesterolemia is mediated by the hypolipidemic properties of estrogens, even if me...

Do oxysterols control cholesterol homeostasis?

Hepatic cholesterol metabolism in cholesterol gallstone disease.

Hepatic cholesterol metabolism was examined in 27 Swedish patients with cholesterol gallstone disease and in 13 patients free of gallstones operated for roentgenographically suspect polyps in the gallbladder. All 40 patients underwent cholecystectomy, and a liver biopsy and gallbladder bile were obtained at surgery. The cholesterol saturation of gallbladder bile was significantly higher in pati...

MicroRNA modulation of cholesterol homeostasis.

Although the roles of the sterol response element binding protein-1 (SREBP1) and SREBP2 transcription factors in regulating fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis and uptake have been known for some time, it was recently discovered that 2 related microRNAs (miRs), miR-33a and miR-33b, are embedded in these genes. Studies indicate that miR-33a and miR-33b act with their host genes, Srebp2 and Sreb...

MicroRNA-223 coordinates cholesterol homeostasis.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate a wide variety of biological processes and contribute to metabolic homeostasis. Here, we demonstrate that microRNA-223 (miR-223), an miRNA previously associated with inflammation, also controls multiple mechanisms associated with cholesterol metabolism. miR-223 promoter activity and mature levels were found to be linked to cellular cholesterol states in hepatoma cell...