Article
Current Understanding of the Role of Cholesterol in the Life Cycle of Alphaviruses
Registro en:
SOUSA JR., Ivanildo P.; CARVALHO, Carlos A. M.; GOMES, Andre M. O. Current Understanding of the Role of Cholesterol in the Life Cycle of Alphaviruses. Viruses, v. 13, n. 1, 12p, 2021.
1999-4915
10.3390/v13010035
Autor
Sousa Jr, Ivanildo P.
Carvalho, Carlos A. M.
Gomes, Andre M. O.
Resumen
Enveloped viruses rely on different lipid classes present in cell membranes to accomplish
several steps of their life cycle in the host. Particularly for alphaviruses, a medically important
group of arboviruses, which are part of the Togaviridae family, cholesterol seems to be a critical
lipid exploited during infection, although its relevance may vary depending on which stage of the
virus life cycle is under consideration and whether infection takes place in vertebrate or invertebrate
hosts. In this review, the role of cholesterol in both early and late events of alphavirus infection
and how viral replication may affect cholesterol metabolism are summarized, taking into account
studies on Old World and New World alphaviruses in different cell lines. Moreover, the importance
of cholesterol for the structural stability of alphavirus particles is also discussed, shedding light on
the role played by this lipid when they leave the host cell.