Cholesteryl ester

Cholesterol esters are chemical compounds between cholesterol and various fatty acids; they belong to the group of esters and are intermediates and reserve substances in the metabolism of vertebrates. Characterized it is part of the human diet. Cholesterol esters have application in the pharmaceutical industry as a component of artificial vesicles. The most common esterified cholesterol esters in natural fatty acids palmitate, oleate and linoleate.

Physiology

The transported in lipoproteins in human blood cholesterol is 70 percent as cholesterol esters are present ( proportion of plasma lipids in total: 36 percent), so the liver can also degrade it easier. The in the plasma cholesterol esters are formed in the body by the enzyme lecithin - cholesterol acyltransferase ( LCAT ). The synthesis takes place on HDL particles, and is part of the reverse cholesterol transport to record stored excess cholesterol in the HDL particles in the cells and transport to the liver. Mined they are there by the hormone-sensitive lipase. Ingested cholesterol esters are broken down in the intestine by using the bile salt -activated lipase into its components.

Cholesterol esters accumulate as insoluble storage form of cholesterol within cells, are synthesized from the sterol -O- acyltransferase. Large amounts of memory in the form of macrophages and smooth muscle are the first indication of atherosclerosis.

Further Reading

• Guido Majno, Isabelle Joris: Cells, tissues, and disease: principles of general pathology. 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press U.S., 2004, ISBN 0-19-514090-7, pp. 92ff.