Dw. Morel et Cy. Lin, CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY OF OXYSTEROLS DERIVED FROM THE DIET OR OXIDATION IN-VIVO, Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 7(9), 1996, pp. 495-506
Oxidized derivatives of cholesterol, known as oxysterols, are present
in the diet as contaminants of cholesterol-containing foods. They can
enter the circulation through the diet or they are generated through p
eroxidation of lipoproteins or enzymatic oxidation of cholesterol. Lik
e cholesterol, oxysterols are transported in serum with lipoproteins b
ut, unlike cholesterol, they may also be transported by serum albumin.
This additional means of transport may allow for more efficient remov
al of cellular sterols or transfer between tissues. It has been sugges
ted that the physiologic regulation of cholesterol metabolism may be t
hrough generation of oxysterols. In addition, oxysterols potentially p
lay a role in aspects of various diseases such as atherosclerosis and
cancer, either as contributory or protective agents, most likely throu
gh their action as potent modulators of cholesterol metabolism and/or
their direct effects on membrane structure and function. Thus, these c
ompounds may represent normal physiologic processes as well as patholo
gical ones and strategies to enhance or diminish oxysterol levels may
prove useful in the future.