胆固醇酯水解酶与动脉粥样硬化

胆固醇酯以脂滴的方式存储在胞浆内是泡沫细胞的主要特点,也是动脉粥样硬化斑块发生发展的关键因素.只有游离胆固醇才能从细胞内外流到细胞外与胆固醇接受体结合,巨噬细胞内胆固醇酯代谢的第一步就是“水解”.水解是游离胆固醇外流的限速步骤,该反应由中性胆固醇酯水解酶催化.此外,胆固醇酯水解酶还调节胆固醇逆转运,从而参与体内胆固醇的最终清除.本综述旨在分析当前各种胆固醇酯水解酶的特点,阐述其参与细胞胆固醇酯水解来调节动脉粥样硬化的作用,为进一步明确能够作为防治动脉粥样硬化形成靶点的水解酶提供线索.

Cholesteryl Ester Hydrolase and Atherosclerosis

Accumulation of cholesteryl ester (CE) stored as cytoplasmic lipid droplets is the main characteristic of macrophage foam cells. It is central to the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Since only unesterified or free cholesterol (FC) can be effluxed from the cells to extracellular cholesterol acceptors, hydrolysis of CE is the obligatory first step in CE mobilization from macrophages. This reaction, catalyzed by neutral cholesteryl ester hydrolase (CEH), is increasingly being recognized as the rate-limiting step in FC efflux. CEH, therefore, regulates the process of reverse cholesterol transport and ultimate elimination of cholesterol from the body. In this review, we discussed the characteristics of the various candidates recognized to date and examined their roles in hydrolyzing cellular CE and thus regulating atherogenesis. We aim to provide clues for using hydrolase as a therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.