Cholesterol and HD

An investigation into how HD affects cholesterol homeostasis

What is cholesterol and what does it do?

Cholesterol is a lipid molecule present in all animals. It is largely found in cell membranes, and there is a smaller amount circulating in the blood stream and stored inside cells. Cholesterol has a number of important functions. It is a key structural component of cell membranes, maintaining their fluidity and stability, and enabling important processes such as endocytosis. It is also important for the metabolism of fat-soluble vitamins, the manufacture of bile salts and the synthesis of vitamin D and steroid hormones. The synthesis of vitamins and hormones takes place in endocrine cells, while bile salts are generated in the liver.

Recently a small number of papers have shown that HD patients have altered levels of cholesterol in nerve cells. Since cholesterol plays a key role in the maintenance of healthy neurons, the disruption of normal cholesterol levels in HD patients may be a significant cause of neuron death and dysfunction.

Last Modified: 07/07/2007

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