Regulation of sterol synthesis in leukaemic blast cells: a defect resembling familial hypercholesterolaemia

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Abstract
Leucocytes from normal subjects and from patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia incubated for 9 h in the absence of lipoproteins increased their rate of sterol biosynthesis from [2‐14C]acetate three‐fold. Subsequent addition of complete serum, low density lipoprotein or cholesterol in a non‐lipoprotein form suppressed sterol synthesis in leucocytes from normal subjects. In contrast, complete serum or low density lipoprotein totally failed to suppress sterol synthesis in leukaemic blast cells. However, when these cells were incubated with cholesterol in a non‐lipoprotein form suppression of sterol synthesis occurred as in normal leucocytes. These results suggest that leukaemic blast cells behave like cells from patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia in showing failure of regulation of sterol synthesis by low density lipoprotein.