Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation

Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation

Although not a source of energy, cholesterol plays a significant role as a foundational structure for bile salts, steroid hormones, and vitamin D, as well as being a crucial component of plasma membranes. Approximately 15% of blood cholesterol is derived from our diet, with the remainder synthesized from acetyl CoA by the liver and intestines. Cholesterol is eliminated from the body through its conversion into bile salts, which are eventually discarded in the feces.
Considering cholesterol and...

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism

Lipids also are sources of energy that power cellular processes. Like carbohydrates, lipids are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but these atoms are arranged differently. Most lipids are nonpolar and hydrophobic. Major types include fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
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...

Transducer Mechanism: Nuclear Receptors

Transducer Mechanism: Nuclear Receptors

Nuclear receptors, or NRs, are unique transcription factors that regulate gene transcription and affect the cellular pathways involved in reproduction, development, or metabolism. Their ability to be stimulated by small lipophilic ligands and control vital cellular processes makes them ideal drug targets. Nearly 10-15% of currently prescribed drugs target these receptors.
About 48 different soluble family members of nuclear receptors are identified that can be divided into two main classes:

Intracellular Hormone Receptors

Intracellular Hormone Receptors

Lipid-soluble hormones diffuse across the plasma and nuclear membrane of target cells to bind to their specific intracellular receptors. These receptors act as transcription factors that regulate gene expression and protein synthesis in the target cell

Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body

Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body

Fats and lipids are crucial components in the human body. Some lipid-derived compounds, such as fat-soluble vitamins, eicosanoids, lipoproteins, and glycolipids, also play unique roles to support various biological processes .
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum or smooth ER is a sub-organelle with specialized functions in animal cells and plant cells. It is often associated with the tubule morphology of the endoplasmic reticulum.
The ER provides optimal conditions for synthesizing steroid hormones and lipids, such as phospholipids and triglycerides. Traditionally, lipid metabolism was considered to be a smooth ER function. However, there is no direct evidence to prove that rough ER is completely excluded from lipid...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Identification of scavenger receptor BI as a scavenger of free heme that is essential for protection against hemolysis.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Role of the endothelial cell apolipoprotein E receptor 2 in modulating the effects of apoE3 and apoE4 on insulin blood-brain barrier transport.

PloS one·2026

Same author

Regulation of Insulin Transcytosis Across Endothelium in Metabolic Health and Disease.

Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology·2025

Same author

Endothelial SR-B1 is dispensable for thermogenesis but promotes selective cholesterol uptake in brown adipose tissue.

Journal of lipid research·2025

Same author

Apolipoprotein E receptor 2 in endothelium promote glucose tolerance by mediating insulin delivery to skeletal muscle.

Molecular metabolism·2025

Same author

27-hydroxycholesterol and endothelial cell immune memory link maternal hypercholesterolemia with atherosclerosis in the offspring.

Nature cardiovascular research·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause

An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause

Published on: August 13, 2019

27-Hydroxycholesterol: the first identified endogenous SERM.

Michihisa Umetani¹, Philip W Shaul

¹Division of Pulmonary and Vascular Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. michihisa.umetani@utsouthwestern

Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM

|March 1, 2011

Summary

The cholesterol metabolite 27-hydroxycholesterol (27OHC) affects estrogen receptors, impacting cardiovascular health, bone mineralization, and cancer cell growth. This endogenous compound acts as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM).

More Related Videos

Analysis of Raw and Processed Cyperi Rhizoma Samples Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Rats with Primary Dysmenorrhea

Analysis of Raw and Processed Cyperi Rhizoma Samples Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Rats with Primary Dysmenorrhea

Published on: December 23, 2022

Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation

Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation

Published on: October 31, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause

An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause

Published on: August 13, 2019

Analysis of Raw and Processed Cyperi Rhizoma Samples Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Rats with Primary Dysmenorrhea

Analysis of Raw and Processed Cyperi Rhizoma Samples Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Rats with Primary Dysmenorrhea

Published on: December 23, 2022

Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation

Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation

Published on: October 31, 2019

Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Metabolic Biochemistry
Molecular Biology

Background:

Cholesterol metabolite 27-hydroxycholesterol (27OHC) is involved in sterol transport and bile acid synthesis.
Emerging evidence shows 27OHC interacts with estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ), modulating their function.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the physiological roles of 27OHC beyond sterol transport.
To determine the impact of 27OHC on estrogen-dependent processes, including cardiovascular protection, bone health, and cancer cell proliferation.

Main Methods:

Utilized mouse models deficient in 27OHC synthesis (CYP27A1 knockout) or catabolism (CYP7B1 knockout).
Examined effects on estrogen-related cardiovascular protection and bone mineralization in vivo.
Investigated 27OHC's influence on ER target gene expression and cell growth in breast cancer cell lines.

Main Results:

Mice lacking CYP27A1 or CYP7B1 exhibited adverse effects on estrogen-mediated cardiovascular protection and bone mineralization.
27OHC was shown to alter ER target gene expression in breast cancer cells, promoting cell growth.

Conclusions:

27OHC is identified as the first endogenous selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM).
27OHC has significant implications for cardiovascular health, bone biology, and cancer development.