Page 18 - Abacoa Community News - October '23

Page 18, Abacoa
Science On The Cutting Edge

Cellular Cholesterol Opens the aggregation of the cholesterol,” Hansen said. “Healthy
The Door For Coronavirus, mechanical force is achieved with exercise. In our studies,
cells need to be jostled a little bit in order to keep the
Study Shows Story By cholesterol from setting up in the cell membrane. Regular
exercise with its increased heart rate and blood flow should
Marissa Locke Rottinghaus reduce the cholesterol aggregates in the cell membranes.”
In addition to new insights on the entry mechanism of SARS-
A recent study unveiled the doorway that SARS-CoV-2 uses CoV-2, Hansen’s study also highlighted the inaccuracies of the
to slip inside cells undetected. way doctors assess cholesterol risk in their patients. Currently,
SARS-CoV-2 uses the receptor angiotensin-converting the only way to test cholesterol levels is via a blood test.
enzyme 2, or ACE2, to infect human cells. However, this “Basically, cholesterol goes both ways,” Hansen said. “It
receptor alone does not paint a complete picture of how the gets loaded into cells, which is the forward pathway. But then
virus enters cells. ACE2 is like a doorknob; when SARS-CoV-2 there’s reverse cholesterol transport where the body takes
grabs it and maneuvers it precisely, this allows the virus to open cholesterol back out of the cells and moves it to your liver
a doorway to the cell’s inner workings and step inside. However, and excretes it out of the body or recycles it. If you measure
the identity of the door eluded scientists. But this virus is sneaking in when you pull the door closed.” cholesterol levels in the blood, you don’t know the levels in
Scott Hansen, Ph.D., Cholesterol is necessary for survival, but too much the tissue or if it is being taken out or brought in.”
an associate professor of cholesterol may be increasing your risk for COVID-19 at Hansen and his team are working with physicians to
molecular medicine at The the cellular and biochemical levels. come up with a test that more accurately represents tissue
Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps “In smokers with chronic disease, cholesterol in the cholesterol and its distribution throughout the body.
Institute for Biomedical lung tissue is elevated two-fold, a magnitude of change “In the future, this study may affect how doctors think about
Innovation & Technology in that dramatically increases infectivity of the virus in cholesterol in the body,” Hansen said. “Instead of focusing on
Jupiter, Fla., discovered that cell culture,” Hansen said. In fact, according to a study, the blood, which changes every time you eat, they will need to
cholesterol clusters make up supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood focus on the tissues and how the cholesterol is taken up over
that door. His team published Institute, smoking was associated with a higher risk of time. It’s a harder measurement, but, in the end, it may help
their work in the Journal of severe COVID-19, including death. people understand their risk for disease and save lives.”
Biological Chemistry. However, Hansen’s past research has shown that the
Early on in the cholesterol promoting SARS-CoV-2 infection can easily be
COVID-19 pandemic, the disrupted to help patients stay healthy and avoid infection.
elderly and people with Scott Hansen, Ph.D. “Mechanical force and polyunsaturated fatty acids disrupt
chronic diseases such as
hypertension, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular
diseases experienced more viral-related deaths. However, Experience Dentistry with a Woman’s Touch
children seemed to be less susceptible.
Wang Et Al. In Molecular And Cellular Proteomics
Model for SARS-CoV-2 viral entry in high and low
cholesterol tissues. When cholesterol is high, ACE2 receptor Cosmetic & Comprehensive Restorative Dentistry
translocated to lipid clusters a position optimal for viral
binding and endocytosis. When cholesterol is low, ACE2 State of the Art & Same Day Restorations
receptor is trafficked away from lipid clusters and position
that poorly facilitates viral infection. Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation Available
Hansen hypothesized that part of this phenomenon was
due to the high amounts of tissue cholesterol in populations
with chronic disease. From 2017 to 2020, 86.4 million Joanne Green, D.D.S.
U.S. adults aged 20 or older had high or borderline high
cholesterol in the blood. 10887 N. Military Trail, Suite 6
After completing studies using cutting-edge technology Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
like super resolution microscopy, his team showed that
cholesterol on the cell surface makes ACE2 readily (561) 622-2815 • www.joannegreendds.com
accessible to SARS-CoV-2 for cell entry.
“Our cells have a protective coat of lipids, or fat, that keeps Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry - Cum Laude
out invaders and bad molecules,” Hansen said. “Cholesterol Hospital of the University of Penn - General Practice Residency Training
is a part of a place where nutrients come into the cell. I live Harvard Dental School - Former Instructor
in Florida; so we think of this mechanism as, if a hurricane is Boston Brigham and Women’s Dental Group - Staff Dentist
coming, you batten down the hatches after collecting resources.

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