The Cross-Talk Between the Peripheral and Brain Cholesterol Metabolisms

Cholesterol is an essential element for the development and normal function of the central nervous system. While peripheral cholesterol is influenced by liver metabolism and diet, brain cholesterol metabolism takes place in an isolated system due to the impermeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB...

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Main Authors: Ilinca Savulescu-Fiedler, Luiza-Roxana Dorobantu-Lungu, Serban Dragosloveanu, Serban Nicolae Benea, Christiana Diana Maria Dragosloveanu, Ana Caruntu, Andreea-Elena Scheau, Constantin Caruntu, Cristian Scheau
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Current Issues in Molecular Biology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/2/115
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author Ilinca Savulescu-Fiedler
Luiza-Roxana Dorobantu-Lungu
Serban Dragosloveanu
Serban Nicolae Benea
Christiana Diana Maria Dragosloveanu
Ana Caruntu
Andreea-Elena Scheau
Constantin Caruntu
Cristian Scheau
author_facet Ilinca Savulescu-Fiedler
Luiza-Roxana Dorobantu-Lungu
Serban Dragosloveanu
Serban Nicolae Benea
Christiana Diana Maria Dragosloveanu
Ana Caruntu
Andreea-Elena Scheau
Constantin Caruntu
Cristian Scheau
author_sort Ilinca Savulescu-Fiedler
collection DOAJ
description Cholesterol is an essential element for the development and normal function of the central nervous system. While peripheral cholesterol is influenced by liver metabolism and diet, brain cholesterol metabolism takes place in an isolated system due to the impermeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). However, cross-talk occurs between the brain and periphery, specifically through metabolites such as oxysterols that play key roles in regulating cholesterol balance. Several neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease are considered to be affected by the loss of this balance. Also, the treatment of hypercholesterolemia needs to consider these discrete interferences between brain and peripheral cholesterol and the possible implications of each therapeutic approach. This is particularly important because of 27-hydroxycholesterol and 24-hydroxycholesterol, which can cross the BBB and are involved in cholesterol metabolism. This paper examines the metabolic pathways of cholesterol metabolism in the brain and periphery and focuses on the complex cross-talk between these metabolisms. Also, we emphasize the regulatory role of the BBB and the need for an integrated approach to cholesterol management.
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issn 1467-3037
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publishDate 2025-02-01
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series Current Issues in Molecular Biology
spelling doaj-art-498a216239a54e0ca021e8b3d53bc06b2025-08-20T02:44:46ZengMDPI AGCurrent Issues in Molecular Biology1467-30371467-30452025-02-0147211510.3390/cimb47020115The Cross-Talk Between the Peripheral and Brain Cholesterol MetabolismsIlinca Savulescu-Fiedler0Luiza-Roxana Dorobantu-Lungu1Serban Dragosloveanu2Serban Nicolae Benea3Christiana Diana Maria Dragosloveanu4Ana Caruntu5Andreea-Elena Scheau6Constantin Caruntu7Cristian Scheau8Department of Internal Medicine, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Cardiology, Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases “C.C. Iliescu”, 022328 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Orthopaedics, “Foisor” Clinical Hospital of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Osteoarticular TB, 021382 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Dentistry, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, “Carol Davila” Central Military Emergency Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Fundeni Clinical Institute, 022328 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, RomaniaCholesterol is an essential element for the development and normal function of the central nervous system. While peripheral cholesterol is influenced by liver metabolism and diet, brain cholesterol metabolism takes place in an isolated system due to the impermeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). However, cross-talk occurs between the brain and periphery, specifically through metabolites such as oxysterols that play key roles in regulating cholesterol balance. Several neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease are considered to be affected by the loss of this balance. Also, the treatment of hypercholesterolemia needs to consider these discrete interferences between brain and peripheral cholesterol and the possible implications of each therapeutic approach. This is particularly important because of 27-hydroxycholesterol and 24-hydroxycholesterol, which can cross the BBB and are involved in cholesterol metabolism. This paper examines the metabolic pathways of cholesterol metabolism in the brain and periphery and focuses on the complex cross-talk between these metabolisms. Also, we emphasize the regulatory role of the BBB and the need for an integrated approach to cholesterol management.https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/2/115cholesterol24-hydroxycholesterol27-hydroxycholesterolstatinsPCSK9imetabolism
spellingShingle Ilinca Savulescu-Fiedler
Luiza-Roxana Dorobantu-Lungu
Serban Dragosloveanu
Serban Nicolae Benea
Christiana Diana Maria Dragosloveanu
Ana Caruntu
Andreea-Elena Scheau
Constantin Caruntu
Cristian Scheau
The Cross-Talk Between the Peripheral and Brain Cholesterol Metabolisms
Current Issues in Molecular Biology
cholesterol
24-hydroxycholesterol
27-hydroxycholesterol
statins
PCSK9i
metabolism
title The Cross-Talk Between the Peripheral and Brain Cholesterol Metabolisms
title_full The Cross-Talk Between the Peripheral and Brain Cholesterol Metabolisms
title_fullStr The Cross-Talk Between the Peripheral and Brain Cholesterol Metabolisms
title_full_unstemmed The Cross-Talk Between the Peripheral and Brain Cholesterol Metabolisms
title_short The Cross-Talk Between the Peripheral and Brain Cholesterol Metabolisms
title_sort cross talk between the peripheral and brain cholesterol metabolisms
topic cholesterol
24-hydroxycholesterol
27-hydroxycholesterol
statins
PCSK9i
metabolism
url https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/2/115
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