Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Annu Rev Biochem. 2011;80:885-916. doi: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-081308-165917.
Sterol metabolites are critical signaling molecules that regulate metabolism, development, and homeostasis. Oxysterols, bile acids (BAs), and steroids work primarily through cognate sterol-responsive nuclear hormone receptors to control these processes through feed-forward and feedback mechanisms. These signaling pathways are conserved from simple invertebrates to mammals. Indeed, results from various model organisms have yielded fundamental insights into cholesterol and BA homeostasis, lipid and glucose metabolism, protective mechanisms, tissue differentiation, development, reproduction, and even aging. Here, we review how sterols act through evolutionarily ancient mechanisms to control these processes.
甾醇代谢物是调节代谢、发育和内稳态的关键信号分子。氧化甾醇、胆汁酸（BAs）和类固醇主要通过同源甾醇反应性核激素受体发挥作用，通过前馈和反馈机制控制这些过程。这些信号通路从简单的无脊椎动物到哺乳动物都是保守的。事实上，来自各种模式生物的研究结果为胆固醇和 BA 稳态、脂质和葡萄糖代谢、保护机制、组织分化、发育、繁殖甚至衰老提供了重要的见解。在这里，我们回顾了甾醇如何通过古老的进化机制来控制这些过程。
