Tag Archives: cholesterol
The protein TMEM147 is a novel regulator of cholesterol homeostasis in human cells
In terrestrial vertebrate animals, cholesterol is a major sterol lipid with multiple, critically important biological roles. In cells, it is a key constituent lipid of the plasma membrane, affecting its fluidity and stiffness and acting as an
More than your average bread spread: plant stanols as therapeutical tool in Niemann-Pick type C1 disease
Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) disease is a lysosomal storage disease that affects nearly 1 in 100,000 live births worldwide. NPC1 disease is caused by mutations in the NPC1 gene that result in a dysfunctional NPC1 protein, which
Is too much “good” cholesterol a health risk?
There are thought to be good and bad types of cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is thought to be a good type of cholesterol because it is believed to remove bad types of cholesterol from blood vessel
Optimal level of membrane cholesterol guarantees the proper functioning of Kv channels
Cholesterol is the most abundant lipid of the mammalian plasma membrane. It is well known that cholesterol influences membrane biophysical properties and regulates the activity of multiple types of ion channels, including K+ channels. The reported mechanisms
Cholesterol manipulation switches the production of “toxic Aβ” to “protective Aβ”
The amyloid hypothesis maintains that the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is driven by the production and accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides in the brain. Consequently, many therapeutic strategies to reduce Aβ production have been examined. However,
Cholesterol: the eyes have it
Cell membranes are a complex mosaic of lipids and proteins. The membrane phospholipids are arranged in a bilayer with their polar heads interacting with the surrounding water and their hydrocarbon tails forming a hydrophobic core. Membrane proteins
Metabolic reprogramming: from estrogen dependence to self-sufficiency
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and, despite significant progress in diagnosis and treatments, incidence has been steadily increasing in the last 40 years. Approximately 70% of breast cancers are characterised by the expression
Oxidized cholesterol makes stronger and stiffer cells, promotes blood vessel formation
Atherosclerotic plaques that clog major arteries lead to heart attack and stroke because of the loss of the local blood supply to the heart or to brain tissues. It is also increasingly recognized today that formation and
Statins and diabetes: do the benefits outweigh the risks?
Cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke) is the leading cause of death in the United States. Prescription cholesterol-lowering medications have been shown to lower the risks for heart attacks and stroke. In fact, roughly 28% of Americans
A better way to measure heart disease risk for an overweight society
Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or the “bad cholesterol” is an established measure of cardiovascular risk. LDL particles interact with the lining of the blood vessel and contribute to cholesterol loading in the arterial wall. Continued buildup
Food and Nutrition cause liver and brain diseases with diabetes in the developing and developed world
In the world the consumption of a healthy diet is essential to prevent diseases such as obesity, diabetes and brain diseases. New discoveries in medicine indicate that a diet that is low in fat and carbohydrate lower
HDL cholesterol: sometimes more is not necessarily better
Lipoproteins are complex particles that are responsible for transporting the water insoluble molecule, cholesterol, through the blood stream. Cholesterol is transported from the liver to peripheral tissues. Excess cholesterol in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is deposited in the
Modulation of bad cholesterol: what happens when patients with kidney disease receive omega-3-fatty acids?
Just as oil cannot dissolve in water, so cannot fat dissolve in blood. In order for our bodies to transport cholesterol, which is made of fat (lipids), within our bloodstreams something is needed to carry it around.
How reducing cell signalling protects neurons against synapse degeneration
Dementia is a clinical manifestation of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and is seen in a high proportion of late stage Parkinson’s disease patients. The symptoms are associated with degeneration of synapses, the structures by which
Is HDL cholesterol always good for you? Surprises, overturns and promises
According to the World Health Organization, coronary heart disease is a major cause of death worldwide. In 2008, 17.3 million people died from heart disease, and this number is expected to rise further, reaching an estimated of
A combination therapy to induce apoptosis in difficult-to-treat cancer cells
The presence of activated PI3K-AKT is a major obstacle to successful chemotherapies. Since PI3K-AKT is activated in many healthy tissues, chemical inhibitors of PI3K-AKT inevitably have many unwanted side effects. By using a cholesterol-targeting drug called beta-cyclodextrin
Should you be taking a statin drug?
Millions of patients are currently treated with cholesterol-lowering statin drugs that are prescribed to prolong life and prevent heart attacks. For patients who have never had a heart attack or stroke (primary prevention), statin therapy is typically
