Institute of Life Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Center for Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Hepatol Commun. 2024 May 2;8(5). doi: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000434. eCollection 2024 May 1.
Cholesterol is an essential lipid molecule in mammalian cells. It is not only involved in the formation of cell membranes but also serves as a raw material for the synthesis of bile acids, vitamin D, and steroid hormones. Additionally, it acts as a covalent modifier of proteins and plays a crucial role in numerous life processes. Generally, the metabolic processes of cholesterol absorption, synthesis, conversion, and efflux are strictly regulated. Excessive accumulation of cholesterol in the body is a risk factor for metabolic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In this review, we first provide an overview of the discovery of cholesterol and the fundamental process of cholesterol metabolism. We then summarize the relationship between dietary cholesterol intake and the risk of developing MASLD, and also the animal models of MASLD specifically established with a cholesterol-containing diet. In the end, the role of cholesterol-induced inflammation in the initiation and development of MASLD is discussed.
胆固醇是哺乳动物细胞中一种重要的脂质分子。它不仅参与细胞膜的形成，还是胆汁酸、维生素 D 和甾体激素合成的原料。此外，胆固醇还作为蛋白质的共价修饰物，在许多生命过程中发挥着关键作用。通常，胆固醇的吸收、合成、转化和外排代谢过程受到严格的调控。体内胆固醇的过度积累是心血管疾病、2 型糖尿病和代谢功能障碍相关脂肪性肝病（MASLD）等代谢性疾病的一个风险因素。在这篇综述中，我们首先概述了胆固醇的发现和胆固醇代谢的基本过程。然后，我们总结了膳食胆固醇摄入与 MASLD 发病风险的关系，以及专门用含胆固醇饮食建立的 MASLD 动物模型。最后，我们讨论了胆固醇诱导的炎症在 MASLD 的发生和发展中的作用。
