Cholesterol metabolism in man

Abstract

Recent investigations on cholesterol metabolism in man have led to new insights into diseases associated with abnormal accumulations of cholesterol in plasma (hypercholesterolemia), arterial tissues (atherosclerosis) and biliary tract (gallstones). Regulation of cholesterol synthesis under the influence of dietary and plasma cholesterol, may play a crucial role in determining biliary and tissue concentrations of this sterol. Plasma concentrations, on the other hand, appear to be controlled by complex mechanisms for secretion, transformation and removal of plasma lipoproteins. The recent identification of specific cellular receptors for uptake of plasma lipoproteins represents a significant advance for the understanding of regulation of both plasma and tissue concentrations, and possibly of the basic mechanisms underlying accumulation of cholesterol in atherosclerotic plaques.