Inbar M, Shinitzky M
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1974 Oct;71(10):4229-31. doi: 10.1073/pnas.71.10.4229.
Leukemia in mice and humans is accompanied by a marked deficiency of unesterified cholesterol in the surface membrane of leukemic cells as compared to normal leukocytes. This deficiency induces a significant reduction in their membrane microviscosity. Since cholesterol in the cell surface membrane is exchangeable with cholesterol in the serum lipoproteins, concomitant to the cellular deficiency of cholesterol, the average level of cholesterol in the blood serum of leukemic patients is substantially below the average normal level. Based on these observations and the effect of membrane microviscosity on biological functions, a working hypothesis that describes the role of cholesterol in the development and inhibition of leukemia is suggested. This hypothesis can also account for the effect of cholesterol and membrane microviscosity on various other cellular activities of leukocytes.
与正常白细胞相比，小鼠和人类白血病患者的白血病细胞表面膜中未酯化胆固醇明显缺乏。这种缺乏导致其膜微粘度显著降低。由于细胞表面膜中的胆固醇可与血清脂蛋白中的胆固醇交换，伴随细胞胆固醇缺乏，白血病患者血清中胆固醇的平均水平大幅低于正常平均水平。基于这些观察结果以及膜微粘度对生物学功能的影响，提出了一个描述胆固醇在白血病发生和抑制中的作用的工作假说。该假说也可以解释胆固醇和膜微粘度对白细胞各种其他细胞活动的影响。
