Cholesterol sulfotransferase and cholesterol metabolism

Abstract

Cholesterol sulfate has been found to be a significant component of stratum corneum lipids and plays an important role in keratinocyte differentiation and development of the barrier, but we did not understand how it was made. In 2001, we found cholesterol sulfotransferase (SULT2B1b) which sulfonates cholesterol with universal sulfate donor (PAPS) and expressed in skin and the primary culture of human keratinocyte cell. SULT2B1b also sulfonates several oxysterols including cytotoxic 7-ketocholesterol, and cholesterol sulfate is completely nontoxic to cells. Recently, it has been reported that relationships between sulfonation of oxysterols and nuclear receptors which were involved in the regulation of genes engaged in lipid metabolism. These reports suggested that sulfonation of oxysterols might regulate lipid metabolism.