Cholesterol homeostasis and function in neurons of the central nervous system
Open accessAbstract
Cholesterol is a multifaceted molecule. First, it serves as an essential membrane component, as a cofactor for signaling molecules and as a precursor for steroid hormones; second, its synthesis, intercellular transport and intracellular distribution present a logistic tour de force requiring hundreds of cellular components, and third, it plays a crucial role in major human diseases. Despite intense research on this molecule, its metabolism in the central nervous system and its role in neuronal development and function are not well understood. Here I summarize recent results and hypotheses about how neurons maintain their cholesterol level and how cholesterol influences the establishment and maintenance of synaptic connections.
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Cholesterol released from apoE-containing lipoprotein particles is used to support synaptogenesis and the maintenance of synaptic connections.
“Cholesterol released from apoE-containing lipoprotein particles is used to support synaptogenesis and the maintenance of synaptic connections (Pfrieger, 2003).”
From The role of apolipoprotein E in Alzheimer's disease (2009) · cites this paper as Pfrieger, 2003
The Cholesterol synthesis figure describes a model in which neurons import cholesterol from astrocyte-derived, ApoE-containing lipoproteins, and the Synapse formation section links external cholesterol to synaptogenesis. But the Synapse stabilization section presents cholesterol’s role in maintaining connections as a possibility and says more studies are needed; the claim states that role as established. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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“Once in the extracellular space, the ApoE-cholesterol complex is taken up via LDL receptors into neurons where it can be utilized for synaptogenesis, synaptic vesicle formation, and axonal plasticity (Allen, Halverson-Tamboli, & Rasenick, 2007; Mauch et al. 2001; Pfrieger 2003; Thiele et al. 2000).”
BackgroundAz alacsony szérumkoleszterin-szint mint lehetséges öngyilkossági rizikótényező
Dimény, E., Bán, E., Fekete, L. G., & Brassai, A. (2021) · Orvosi Hetilap · doi:10.1556/650.2021.32225 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
- Authors
- Pfrieger, F. W.
- Affiliations
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Pfrieger, F. W.
- ORCID
- Pfrieger, F. W.
- Venue
- Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
- Published
- 2003-06
- Volume
- 60
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1158-1171
- ISSN
- 1420-682X (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC11138592
- OpenAlex
- W1602494991
- Cited by
- 453
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 23
- FWCI
- 10.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
- Fondation de France
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Cancer, Lipids, and Metabolism
- Keywords
- cholesterol homeostasis, cholesterol metabolism, neurons, central nervous system, cholesterol biosynthesis, cholesterol transport, cholesterol distribution, neuronal development, synaptic connectivity, membrane cholesterol, steroid hormones, neurodegenerative diseases
- MeSH terms
- Alzheimer Disease, Animals, Biological Transport, Active, Central Nervous System, Cholesterol, Homeostasis, Humans, Models, Neurological, Neuronal Plasticity, Neurons, Synapses
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