Cited by 42Cholesterol and Lipid MetabolismLipid Membrane Structure and BehaviorSteroid Chemistry and Biochemistry

What dictates the accumulation of desmosterol in the developing brain?

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Jansen, Maurice, Wang, Wei, Greco, Dario, Bellenchi, Gian Carlo, di Porzio, Umberto, Brown, Andrew J., Ikonen, Elina·2013·The FASEB Journal

Abstract

The brain is the most cholesterol‐enriched tissue in the body. During brain development, desmosterol, an immediate precursor of cholesterol, transiently accumulates up to 30% of total brain sterols. This massive desmosterol deposition appears to be present in all mammalian species reported so far, including humans, but how it is achieved is not well understood. Here, we propose that desmosterol accumulation in the developing brain may be primarily caused by post‐transcriptional repression of 3β‐hydroxysterol 24‐reductase (DHCR24) by progesterone. Furthermore, distinct properties of desmosterol may serve to increase the membrane active pool of sterols in the brain: desmosterol cannot be hydroxylated to generate 24 S ‐hydroxycholesterol, a brain derived secretory sterol, desmosterol has a reduced propensity to be esterified as compared to cholesterol, and desmosterol may activate LXR to stimulate astrocyte sterol secretion. This regulated accumulation of desmosterol by progesterone‐induced suppression of DHCR24 may facilitate the rapid enrichment and distribution of membrane sterols in the developing brain.—Jansen, M., Wang, W., Greco, D., Bellenchi, G. C., di Porzio, U., Brown, A. J., and Ikonen, E. What dictates the accumulation of desmosterol in the developing brain? FASEB J. 27, 865–870 (2013). www.fasebj.org

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Crossref · 10.1096/fj.12-211235

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Authors
Jansen, M., Wang, W., Greco, D., Bellenchi, G. C., di Porzio, U., Brown, A. J., & Ikonen, E.
Affiliations
  • University of Helsinki (FI)
  • Institute of Genetics and Biophysics (IT)
  • Institute of Genetics and Biophysics Naples Italy
  • UNSW Sydney (AU)
Corresponding author
Ikonen, Elina
Venue
The FASEB Journal
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2012-12-10
Volume
27
Issue
3
Pages
865-870
ISSN
  • 0892-6638 (ISSN-L)
  • 1530-6860
OpenAlex
W2111981713
Cited by
42
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 3
FWCI
3.91
Type
journal article
Language
en
Locations
  • The FASEB Journal (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • INFM-OAR (INFN Catania) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Academy of Finland (131489)
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (1008081)
  • National Heart Foundation of Australia (G11S 5757)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Steroid Chemistry and Biochemistry
Keywords
desmosterol, brain development, DHCR24, progesterone, cholesterol biosynthesis, membrane sterols, 24S-hydroxycholesterol, sterol esterification, liver X receptor, brain cholesterol
MeSH terms
Liver X Receptors, Animals, Brain, Brain Chemistry, Cell Membrane, Desmosterol, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Progesterone, Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors, Mice, Orphan Nuclear Receptors

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