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Interaction of pathogens with host cholesterol metabolism
Dmitri Sviridov1, Michael Bukrinsky
1aBaker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia bGeorge Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
Current Opinion in Lipidology
|July 19, 2014
Summary
Pathogens exploit host cholesterol metabolism for their growth and to weaken immune defenses. Targeting these interactions offers a dual strategy against infections and associated metabolic issues like atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Pathogens across diverse taxa, including prions and protozoa, manipulate host cellular cholesterol metabolism.
- This manipulation serves pathogen development, impairs host immunity, and can lead to metabolic complications such as atherosclerosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on how pathogens target and exploit host cholesterol metabolism.
- To highlight common mechanisms employed by pathogens in this interaction.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent scientific findings.
- Analysis of pathogen-host interactions at the cellular and systemic levels.
Main Results:
- Pathogens frequently target host plasma membrane lipid rafts for entry and to disrupt immune signaling.
- Intracellular pathogens utilize lipid rafts as entry points and for replication.
- Pathogens, unable to synthesize cholesterol, salvage host cholesterol for their own membrane and assembly needs.
- Infected cells release factors that influence lipid metabolism systemically.
Conclusions:
- Host cholesterol metabolism is crucial for pathogen survival and development.
- Targeting pathogen-host cholesterol interactions presents a promising therapeutic strategy.
- This strategy may combat infections and their associated metabolic disorders.
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