Cholesterol as a bioregulator in the development and inhibition of leukemia.

Leukemia in mice and humans is accompanied by a marked deficiency of unesterified cholesterol in the surface membrane of leukemic cells as compared to normal leukocytes. This deficiency induces a significant reduction in their membrane microviscosity. Since cholesterol in the cell surface membrane is exchangeable with cholesterol in the serum lipoproteins, concomitant to the cellular deficiency of cholesterol, the average level of cholesterol in the blood serum of leukemic patients is substantially below the average normal level. Based on these observations and the effect of membrane microviscosity on biological functions, a working hypothesis that describes the role of cholesterol in the development and inhibition of leukemia is suggested. This hypothesis can also account for the effect of cholesterol and membrane microviscosity on various other cellular activities of leukocytes.