Phytosterols reverse antiretroviral-induced hearing loss, with potential implications for cochlear aging.

ABSTRACT: Cholesterol contributes to neuronal membrane integrity, supports membrane protein clustering and function, and facilitates proper signal transduction. Extensive evidence has shown that cholesterol imbalances in the central nervous system occur in aging and in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. In this work, we characterize cholesterol homeostasis in the inner ear of young and aged mice as a new unexplored possibility for the prevention and treatment of hearing loss. Our results show that cholesterol levels in the inner ear are reduced during aging, an effect that is associated with an increased expression of the cholesterol 24-hydroxylase (CYP46A1), the main enzyme responsible for cholesterol turnover in the brain. In addition, we show that pharmacological activation of CYP46A1

SUBMITTER: Sodero AO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10449472 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature