Chapter title |
Mitochondrial Cholesterol and the Paradox in Cell Death
|
---|---|
Chapter number | 110 |
Book title |
Pharmacology of Mitochondria
|
Published in |
Handbook of experimental pharmacology, January 2016
|
DOI | 10.1007/164_2016_110 |
Pubmed ID | |
Book ISBNs |
978-3-31-957311-3, 978-3-31-957313-7
|
Authors |
Carmen García-Ruiz, Vicente Ribas, Anna Baulies, Jose C. Fernández-Checa |
Abstract |
Mitochondria are considered cholesterol-poor organelles, and obtain their cholesterol load by the action of specialized proteins involved in its delivery from extramitochondrial sources and trafficking within mitochondrial membranes. Although mitochondrial cholesterol fulfills vital physiological functions, such as the synthesis of bile acids in the liver or the formation of steroid hormones in specialized tissues, recent evidence indicates that the accumulation of cholesterol in mitochondria may be a key event in prevalent human diseases, in particular in the development of steatohepatitis (SH) and its progression to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Mitochondrial cholesterol accumulation promotes the transition from simple steatosis to SH due to the sensitization to oxidative stress and cell death. However, mitochondrial cholesterol loading in HCC determines apoptosis resistance and insensitivity to chemotherapy. These opposing functions of mitochondrial cholesterol in SH and HCC define its paradoxical role in cell death as a pro- and anti-apoptotic factor. Further understanding of this conundrum may be useful to modulate the progression from SH to HCC by targeting mitochondrial cholesterol trafficking. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 25 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Researcher | 8 | 32% |
Lecturer | 2 | 8% |
Student > Master | 2 | 8% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 2 | 8% |
Student > Bachelor | 1 | 4% |
Other | 3 | 12% |
Unknown | 7 | 28% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 8 | 32% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 3 | 12% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 2 | 8% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 1 | 4% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 1 | 4% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Unknown | 10 | 40% |