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Unfolding the toxicity of cholesterol

Nature Cell Biology volume 5, pages 769–770 (2003)Cite this article

A critical attribute of advanced atherosclerosis is the accumulation of free cholesterol in macrophages, triggering cell death. Now, a study reveals that the key events that result in cholesterol-induced macrophage death are the depletion of endoplasmic reticulum calcium stores by free cholesterol and subsequent activation of the unfolded protein response.

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Figure 1: Signalling UPR-mediated cell death in free cholesterol-loaded macrophages.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, 48109, MI, USA

    Kezhong Zhang

  2. Department of Biological Chemistry and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, 48109, MI, USA

    Randal J. Kaufman

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  1. Kezhong Zhang
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  2. Randal J. Kaufman
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Zhang, K., Kaufman, R. Unfolding the toxicity of cholesterol. Nat Cell Biol 5, 769–770 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb0903-769

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