Cholesteryl ester

Cholesterol oleate, a member of the cholesteryl ester family

Cholesteryl esters are a type of dietary lipid and are ester derivatives of cholesterol. The ester bond is formed between the carboxylate group of a fatty acid and the hydroxyl group of cholesterol. Cholesteryl esters have a lower solubility in water due to their increased hydrophobicity. Esters are formed by replacing at least one –OH (hydroxyl) group with an –O–alkyl (alkoxy) group. They are hydrolyzed by pancreatic enzymes, such as cholesterol esterase, to produce cholesterol and free fatty acids.^[1] They are associated with atherosclerosis.^[2]

Cholesteryl ester is found in human brains as lipid droplets which store and transport cholesterol.^[3] Increased levels of cholesteryl ester have been found in certain parts of the brain of people with Huntington's disease. Higher concentrations of cholesteryl ester have been found in the caudate and putamen, but not the cerebellum, of people with Huntington disease compared with levels in controls.^[4] Increase in cholesteryl ester has also been found in other neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.^[3]

Transfer of cholesteryl ester

Cholesteryl ester is transported from high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) to low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) with cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP).^[5] The decrease in cholesteryl ester can lower HDL and increase LDL, which may be an indicator of cardiovascular problems, as indicated by intervention studies.^[5] Increasing HDL values has the potential to prevent mortality associated with cardiovascular risks such as atherosclerosis.^[6]

See also

• Cholesteryl ester transfer protein
• Cholesteryl ester storage disease
• Cholesterol esterification disorder
• Acyl CoA cholesteryl acyltransferase (ACAT)
• Lecithin–cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT)

References

1. Ferrier, Richard A. Harvey, Denise R. (2011). Lippincott's illustrated reviews, biochemistry (5th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health. p. 175. ISBN 9781608314126.
2. Cholesterol+Esters at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
3. Phillips, Gabrielle R.; Hancock, Sarah E.; Brown, Simon H. J.; Jenner, Andrew M.; Kreilaus, Fabian; Newell, Kelly A.; Mitchell, Todd W. (2020-11-20). "Cholesteryl ester levels are elevated in the caudate and putamen of Huntington's disease patients". Scientific Reports. 10 (1): 20314. Bibcode:2020NatSR..1020314P. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-76973-8. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 7680097. PMID 33219259.
4. "Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute Researchers Report on Findings in Huntington Disease (Cholesteryl ester levels are elevated in the caudate and putamen of Huntington's disease patients) (Cholesteryl ester levels are elevated in ...)." Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week, 2020, p. 2684. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A643924682/AONE?u=cuny_hunter&sid=AONE&xid=6782d457. Accessed 2 May 2021.
5. Liu, Shenping; Mistry, Anil; Reynolds, Jennifer M.; Lloyd, David B.; Griffor, Matthew C.; Perry, David A.; Ruggeri, Roger B.; Clark, Ronald W.; Qiu, Xiayang (October 2012). "Crystal Structures of Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein in Complex with Inhibitors". Journal of Biological Chemistry. 287 (44): 37321–37329. doi:10.1074/jbc.M112.380063. PMC 3481329. PMID 22961980.
6. Chapman, M. J.; Le Goff, W.; Guerin, M.; Kontush, A. (2 January 2010). "Cholesteryl ester transfer protein: at the heart of the action of lipid-modulating therapy with statins, fibrates, niacin, and cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors". European Heart Journal. 31 (2): 149–164. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehp399. PMC 2806550. PMID 19825813.