Cholesteryl arachidonate

Cholesteryl arachidonate is a cholesterol ester that is found in plasma and the adrenal gland.¹ It is a component of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and oxidiation of the arachidonate moiety contributes to macrophage activation and foam cell formation in atherosclerosis.² Cholesteryl arachidonate undergoes hydrolysis to release arachidonic acid during ACTH-stimulated prostaglandin synthesis in rat adrenocortical cells.³ Levels of cholesteryl arachidonate are increased in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in pediatric cystic fibrosis patients compared to healthy controls as well as in placentas of women with chorioamnionitis.^4,5

1.Cheng, B., Al-Shammari, F.H., Ghader, I.A., et al.Fundamental studies of adrenal retinoid-X-receptor: Protein isoform, tissue expression, subcellular distribution, and ligand availabilityJ. Steroid. Biochem. Mol. Biol.171110-120(2017) 2.Choi, S.-H., Yin, H., Ravandi, A., et al.Polyoxygenated cholesterol ester hydroperoxide activates TLR4 and SYK dependent signaling in macrophagesPLoS One8(12)e83145(2013) 3.Vahouny, G.V., Chanderbhan, R., Hodges, V.A., et al.Cholesterol arachidonate as a prostaglandin precursor in adrenocortical cellsProstaglandins16(2)207-220(1978) 4.Ma, D.C., Yoon, A.J., Faull, K.F., et al.Cholesteryl esters are elevated in the lipid fraction of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collected from pediatric cystic fibrosis patientsPLoS One10(4)e0125326(2015) 5.Delmis, J.Placental lipid contents in preterm labor complicated by chorioamnionitisJ. Perinat. Med.17(6)417-422(1989)