Magnification of cholesterol-induced membrane resistance on the tissue level: Implications for hypoxia

Abstract

High cellular membrane cholesterol is known to generate membrane resistance and reduce oxygen (O2) permeability. As such, cholesterol may contribute to the Warburg effect in tumor cells by stimulating intracellular hypoxia that cannot be detected from extracellular oxygen measurements. We probe the tissuelevel impact of the phenomenon, asking whether layering of cells can magnify the influence of cholesterol, to modulate hypoxia in relation to capillary proximity. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we affirm that minimally hydrated, adjacent lipid bilayers have independent physical behavior. Combining this insight with published experimental data, we predict linearly increasing impact of membrane cholesterol on oxygen flux across cells layered in tissue.