Table 3.

Cholesterol and diseases

Diseases	Cholesterol-induced pathogenesis	Cholesterol-lowering therapies
ASCVD	Promotes macrophage foaminess	refer to Table 1
NAFLD	Induces inflammation, Küpffer cell foaminess, formation of “crown-like structures”	Statins and ezetimibe (controversial) in clinical studies; Lanifibranor in animal model; Potential new targets: SH3RF2, miRNAs
Obesity	Induces inflammation in adipose tissue, less thermogenic effect	Triiodothyronine in clinical studies; Diet and lifestyle changes; Potential new targets: β3-adrenergic receptor, GC-1
Diabetes	Induces islet β-cell dysfunction; Induces inflammation, oxidative stress and ER stress	CETP inhibitor in clinical studies; Potential new targets: miR-33a and miR-145
Neurodegenerative diseases	Increases Aβ, p-Tau and NFTs: Reduces Aβ clearance Increases α-synuclein aggregates mHTT leads to an unbalanced cholesterol homeostasis	Statins (controversial) in clinical studies; Ewfavirenz, BM15.766, LXRs agonizts and β-cyclodextrins in animal model
Cancer	Promotes the process of cancer; Leads to T cell exhaustion	Statins in clinical studies; Avacizimibe, T0901317 and ezetimibe in animal model
Osteoporosis	Increases bone resorption; Decreases bone formation	Statins in clinical studies (controversial)
Virus infection	Increases the density of lipid rafts; Promotes viral endocytosis 25HC and CH25H inhibit virus infection PCSK9 promotes DENV infection PCSK9 inhibits HCV infection	Statins in clinical studies T0901317 in animal model Evolocumab in clinical study Alirocumab in animal model