Fig. 4. Intracellular cholesterol metabolism controls the proliferation and the differentiation of helper or regulatory T cells.

Cholesterol accumulation promotes proliferation in CD4⁺ T cells. LXR, an important transcription factor regulating cholesterol metabolism, inhibits Th17 differentiation. Moreover, cholesterol biosynthesis regulates the immune resolution by coordinating the switching of IFNγ⁺ into IL-10 in Th1 cells. mTORC1 also contributes to the immune resolution in Treg cells via regulation of cholesterol metabolism.

LXR, liver X receptor; IFN, interferon; mTOR, mechanistic target of rapamycin; IL, interleukin.