Anti-cholesterol

Anti-cholesterol is a naturally occurring antibody to cholesterol produced by mammals. This antibody serves a ‘housekeeping’ or protective role for the host animal, helping to protect the animal from harmful forms of cholesterol such as LDL and VLDL.

Modes of Action

An immunoglobulin protein, anti-cholesterol may be found both in circulation as well as in the digestive tract.

In circulation, this antibody binds selectively to the small, dense, oxidized cholesterol or oxysterol rich LDLs that are known to contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. The antibody does not bind the good forms of cholesterol such as HDL.
In the gastrointestinal tract, the antibody acts as a cholesterol absorption inhibitor. The antibody selectively binds to oxysterol or oxidized-rich cholesterol micelles and prevents their uptake by the intestinal enterocyte. The antibody-bound micelle is then removed through fecal clearance.

References

Dijkstra J, Swartz GM, Raney JJ, et al. (September 1996). "Interaction of anti-cholesterol antibodies with human lipoproteins". J. Immunol. 157 (5): 2006–13. PMID 8757321.
Horváth A, Füst G, Horváth I, et al. (May 2001). "Anti-cholesterol antibodies (ACHA) in patients with different atherosclerotic vascular diseases and healthy individuals. Characterization of human ACHA". Atherosclerosis. 156 (1): 185–92. doi:10.1016/s0021-9150(00)00630-4. PMID 11369013.
Alving CR, Swartz GM, Wassef NM, et al. (January 1996). "Immunization with cholesterol-rich liposomes induces anti-cholesterol antibodies and reduces diet-induced hypercholesterolemia and plaque formation" (PDF). J. Lab. Clin. Med. 127 (1): 40–9. doi:10.1016/S0022-2143(96)90164-X. PMID 8592095.
Golay A, Ferrara JM, Felber JP, Schneider H (December 1990). "Cholesterol-lowering effect of skim milk from immunized cows in hypercholesterolemic patients". Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 52 (6): 1014–9. doi:10.1093/ajcn/52.6.1014. PMID 2239776.
Earnest CP, Jordan AN, Safir M, Weaver E, Church TS (April 2005). "Cholesterol-lowering effects of bovine serum immunoglobulin in participants with mild hypercholesterolemia". Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 81 (4): 792–8. doi:10.1093/ajcn/81.4.792. PMID 15817854.