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Quelling cholesterol pathway fends off brain damage

Nature Medicine volume 15, pages 1358–1359 (2009)Cite this article

A molecular pathway known for regulating cholesterol and lipid metabolism is now implicated in stroke (pages 1399–1406). The pathway is bumped up by N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors (NMDARs), which are hyperactivated in stroke and other conditions.

The choice between life and death of a neuron often rests with NMDARs. NMDARs promote neuronal survival, but their overactivation is also the primary cause of neuronal cell death associated with stroke, head injury and seizures1. NMDARs have also been linked to major neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington's and Alzheimer's diseases.

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Figure 1: NMDAR-mediated activation of SREBP in neuronal cells.

Kim Caesar

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Maria T. Bengoechea-Alonso and Johan Ericsson are at the School of Medicine and Medical Science Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.,

    Maria T Bengoechea-Alonso & Johan Ericsson

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  1. Maria T Bengoechea-Alonso
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  2. Johan Ericsson
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Correspondence to Johan Ericsson.

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Bengoechea-Alonso, M., Ericsson, J. Quelling cholesterol pathway fends off brain damage. Nat Med 15, 1358–1359 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1209-1358

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