Cholesterol metabolism and immune response

Abstract

Cholesterol and its various metabolites are essential components of cell and organelle membranes, playing crucial roles in regulating membrane mobility, permeability, lipid raft formation, and signal transduction. Recent studies have demonstrated that cholesterol intermediates and their derivatives are involved in a variety of biological functions in immune cells, including proliferation, differentiation, migration, effector activity, exhaustion, immune surveillance, and immune evasion. Targeting cholesterol metabolism can influence the progression of various diseases, such as infections, inflammation, and tumors. This article reviews recent advances in understanding how cholesterol metabolic enzymes and metabolites regulate the physiological and pathological functions of immune cells during infections, tumors, and inflammatory responses.

Keywords

• cholesterol metabolism
• macrophage
• t cell
• inflammatory responses
• viral infection
• tumor immunity