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Review
. 2020 Aug 2;9(8):688.
doi: 10.3390/antiox9080688.

Squalene: More than a Step toward Sterols

Marco Micera  1   2 , Alfonso Botto  2 , Federica Geddo  1 , Susanna Antoniotti  1 , Cinzia Margherita Bertea  1 , Renzo Levi  1 , Maria Pia Gallo  1 , Giulia Querio  1
Affiliations
Review

Squalene: More than a Step toward Sterols

Marco Micera et al. Antioxidants (Basel). .

Abstract

Squalene (SQ) is a natural triterpene widely distributed in nature. It is a metabolic intermediate of the sterol biosynthetic pathway and represents a possible target in different metabolic and oxidative stress-related disorders. Growing interest has been focused on SQ's antioxidant properties, derived from its chemical structure. Strong evidence provided by ex vivo models underline its scavenging activity towards free radicals, whereas only a few studies have highlighted its effect in cellular models of oxidative stress. Given the role of unbalanced free radicals in both the onset and progression of several cardiovascular diseases, an in depth evaluation of SQ's contribution to antioxidant defense mechanisms could represent a strategic approach in dealing with these pathological conditions. At present experimental results overall show a double-edged sword role of squalene in cardiovascular diseases and its function has to be better elucidated in order to establish intervention lines focused on its features. This review aims to summarize current knowledge about endogenous and exogenous sources of SQ and to point out the controversial role of SQ in cardiovascular physiology.

Keywords: RNS; ROS; antioxidants; cardiovascular diseases; oxidative stress; squalene.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Biosynthetic pathway of animal and plant sterols. Squalene is synthesized from two units of farnesyl diphosphate by squalene synthase and then converted in 2,3-epoxysqualene, the precursor of animal and plant sterols. The animal sterols cholesterol and ergosterol originate from lanosterol, while the plant sterols, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, campesterol and fucosterol, originate from cycloartenol.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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