Fatty acid modulation of HepG2 cell cholesterol biosynthesis and esterification
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 23, 2026

LDL Cholesterol Uptake Assay Using Live Cell Imaging Analysis with Cell Health Monitoring
Published on: November 17, 2018
1Institute for Clinical Chemistry, Klinikum Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Abstract:
We investigated the effects of medium supplementation with increasing amounts of different fatty acids on HepG2 cell cholesterol biosynthesis and esterification. Up to 200 microM 16:0 led to an increase in cholesterol secretion/synthesis of 60%/40%; 18:1, 18:2, or 18:3 decreased secretion/synthesis by 35%/25%, 65%/65%, and 60%/60%; 80 microM 20:5 caused a reduction of 75%/50%. Compared to 200 microM 16:0, 18:2 led to a 50% reduced cellular cholesterol ester biosynthesis; the effect of 30 microM 20:5 was comparable to that of 18:2 while the addition of 200 microM 18:1 raised esterification. Supplementation of 18:2 reduced the cellular cholesterol ester content by 50%; 16:0 led to an increase of 80%. The effects of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids seem to be related to their number of double bonds and could be due to changes in membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition.
Related Concept Videos
Cell Specific Gene Expression
Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...
Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
Considering cholesterol and...
Lipid Absorption
These breakdown products bind with bile salts and lecithin to form micelles, which quickly pass between microvilli to come in close contact with the apical...
Lipid Catabolism

