In recent years, understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in intracellular cholesterol homeostasis has radically changed to include an increasing number of structurally diverse receptors and carriers. The latest additions have led to the implication of cholesterol in fundamental cell functions such as cellular signaling and growth regulation. It appears that, at least in some instances, adaptive regulation of cholesterol metabolism does not protect cells indefinitely. Changes in this fine homeostatic regulation may occur leading to pathologic consequences. The challenge of this book has been to provide a useful point of reference on the mechanisms that link cholesterol esters to cell growth and division. Particular attention has been dedicated to the alterations in cholesterol esterification in two important proliferative processes such as cancer and atherosclerosis. The data presented in this book provide in vivo and in vitro evidence of a strong relationship between cholesterol esterification and rate of cell proliferation, and suggest that changes in the cholesterol esterification pathway might represent fundamental events in developmental growth processes. Although much progress has been made in tumor and atherosclerosis research, and remarkable therapeutic successes have been achieved in both these pathologies, several questions on the mechanisms underlying changes in cholesterol metabolism and cell proliferation remain to be answered. Therefore, the data acquire particular significance in view of the possibility that the overall process of cholesterol esterification could play a key role in regulating cell proliferation. We hope that this book provides valuable information not only for physicians, but also for teachers and students. As for the Editors, we would like to look at this book as a milestone of a path started some seven years ago when two friends, even though not so young any more, still deeply fascinated by science and the potentiality of biology, put together their scientific competence to face important matters such as the pharmacological control of pathological proliferative processes from a novel perspective. Alessandra Pani Sandra Dessì
CELL GROWTH AND CHOLESTEROL ESTERS
PANI, ALESSANDRA;
2004-01-01
Abstract
In recent years, understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in intracellular cholesterol homeostasis has radically changed to include an increasing number of structurally diverse receptors and carriers. The latest additions have led to the implication of cholesterol in fundamental cell functions such as cellular signaling and growth regulation. It appears that, at least in some instances, adaptive regulation of cholesterol metabolism does not protect cells indefinitely. Changes in this fine homeostatic regulation may occur leading to pathologic consequences. The challenge of this book has been to provide a useful point of reference on the mechanisms that link cholesterol esters to cell growth and division. Particular attention has been dedicated to the alterations in cholesterol esterification in two important proliferative processes such as cancer and atherosclerosis. The data presented in this book provide in vivo and in vitro evidence of a strong relationship between cholesterol esterification and rate of cell proliferation, and suggest that changes in the cholesterol esterification pathway might represent fundamental events in developmental growth processes. Although much progress has been made in tumor and atherosclerosis research, and remarkable therapeutic successes have been achieved in both these pathologies, several questions on the mechanisms underlying changes in cholesterol metabolism and cell proliferation remain to be answered. Therefore, the data acquire particular significance in view of the possibility that the overall process of cholesterol esterification could play a key role in regulating cell proliferation. We hope that this book provides valuable information not only for physicians, but also for teachers and students. As for the Editors, we would like to look at this book as a milestone of a path started some seven years ago when two friends, even though not so young any more, still deeply fascinated by science and the potentiality of biology, put together their scientific competence to face important matters such as the pharmacological control of pathological proliferative processes from a novel perspective. Alessandra Pani Sandra Dessì
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