Library / English Dictionary

CHOLESTEROL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An animal sterol that is normally synthesized by the liver; the most abundant steroid in animal tissues

Synonyms:

cholesterin; cholesterol

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("cholesterol" is a kind of...):

steroid alcohol; sterol (any of a group of natural steroid alcohols derived from plants or animals; they are waxy insoluble substances)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cholesterol"):

HDL cholesterol (the cholesterol in high-density lipoproteins; the 'good' cholesterol; a high level in the blood is thought to lower the risk of coronary artery disease)

LDL cholesterol (the cholesterol in low-density lipoproteins; the 'bad' cholesterol; a high level in the blood is thought to be related to various pathogenic conditions)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Originally used as an anticonvulsant, aminoglutethimide also blocks adrenal steroidogenesis by inhibiting the enzymatic conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone.

(Aminoglutethimide, NCI Thesaurus)

Atamestane binds irreversibly to and inhibits the enzyme aromatase, thereby blocking the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone and the peripheral aromatization of androgenic precursors into estrogens.

(Atamestane, NCI Thesaurus)

Plaque is a sticky substance made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood.

(Atherosclerosis, NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

This agent lowers plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein levels and modulates immune responses by suppressing MHC II (major histocompatibility complex II) on interferon gamma-stimulated, antigen-presenting cells such as human vascular endothelial cells.

(Atorvastatin, NCI Thesaurus)

The active ingredient in a drug used to lower the amount of cholesterol in the blood and to prevent stroke, heart attack, and angina (chest pain).

(Atorvastatin, NCI Dictionary)

This allele, which encodes macrophage scavenger receptor types I and II protein, is involved in the modulation of cholesterol and lipoprotein transport.

(MSR1 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

Muraglitazar causes an increase in HDL-C levels, and a decrease in total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, triglycerides and HbA1c.

(Muraglitazar, NCI Thesaurus)

Other risk factors include older age and diseases like diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

(Peripheral Arterial Disease, NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

This variant typically lacks nuclear palisading, wet keratin, calcification, and cholesterol deposits.

(Papillary Craniopharyngioma, NCI Thesaurus/Adapted from WHO)

A plant-based compound that can compete with dietary cholesterol to be absorbed by the intestines, resulting in lower blood cholesterol levels.

(Phytosterol, NCI Dictionary)