Genetic defenses against noncholesterol sterols

Plasma noncholesterol sterols as indicators of cholesterol absorption.

Heritability of plasma noncholesterol sterols and relationship to DNA sequence polymorphism in ABCG5 and ABCG8.

The plasma concentrations of cholesterol precursor sterols and plant sterols vary over a 5- to 10-fold range among normolipidemic individuals, and provide indices of the relative rates of cholesterol synthesis and fractional absorption. In the present study, we examined the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to variation in the plasma concentrations and sterol-cholester...

Independent association of serum squalene and noncholesterol sterols with coronary artery disease in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of the study was to investigate whether cholesterol metabolism is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in postmenopausal women. BACKGROUND Although hypercholesterolemia, a predominant risk factor of CAD, is related to cholesterol metabolism, the association between cholesterol metabolism and CAD is not well known. METHODS In addition to conventional coronary ...

Lung defenses against opportunistic infections.

This review has examined the possible role of CMI in providing protection against three pathogens that can be opportunists in the lung. Monoclonal antibodies that identify the cellular components of the immune response and recombinant cytokines are important tools to better understand how pulmonary immunity is regulated. Although not discussed in detail, recombinant microbial antigens are usefu...

Designing Defenses against Deadly Viruses

Viruses are curious life forms. Minimalistic and yet equipped with the evolvability to persist and proliferate, there’s clearly a lesson or two to be learned from them on survival. It is perhaps these very intrinsic qualities that have transformed some viruses into the deadliest known pathogens in the history of mankind. A viral epidemic has been the focus of many summer blockbuster movies, whe...