Anti-cholesterol is a naturally occurring antibody

Antibody

An antibody, also known as an immunoglobulin, is a large Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique part of the foreign target, termed an antigen...

 to cholesterol

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a complex isoprenoid. Specifically, it is a waxy steroid of fat that is produced in the liver or intestines. It is used to produce hormones and cell membranes and is transported in the blood plasma of all mammals. It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes...

 produced by mammals. It is believed that this antibody serves a ‘housekeeping’ or protective role for the host animal, helping to protect the animal from harmful forms of cholesterol such as LDL and VLDL.

Modes of Action

An immunoglobulin protein, anti-cholesterol may be found both in circulation as well as in the digestive tract.

• In circulation, this antibody binds selectively to the small, dense, oxidized cholesterol or oxysterol
  Oxysterol
  Oxysterols are oxidized derivatives of cholesterol, which are important in many biological processes, including cholesterol homeostasis, sphingolipid metabolism, platelet aggregation, apoptosis, and protein prenylation.Some examples of oxysterols include:*...
  
   rich LDLs that are known to contribute to the development of atherosclerosis
  Atherosclerosis
  Atherosclerosis is a condition in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol...
  
  . The antibody does not bind the good forms of cholesterol such as HDL
  High density lipoprotein
  High-density lipoprotein is one of the five major groups of lipoproteins, which, in order of sizes, largest to smallest, are chylomicrons, VLDL, IDL, LDL, and HDL, which enable lipids like cholesterol and triglycerides to be transported within the water-based bloodstream...
  
  .

• In the gastrointestinal tract
  Gastrointestinal tract
  The human gastrointestinal tract refers to the stomach and intestine, and sometimes to all the structures from the mouth to the anus. ....
  
  , the antibody acts as a cholesterol absorption inhibitor
  Cholesterol absorption inhibitor
  Cholesterol absorption inhibitors are a class of compounds that prevents the uptake of cholesterol from the small intestine into the circulatory system.An example is ezetimibe, previously known as "Sch-58235". Another example is Sch-48461...
  
  . The antibody selectively binds to oxysterol
  Oxysterol
  Oxysterols are oxidized derivatives of cholesterol, which are important in many biological processes, including cholesterol homeostasis, sphingolipid metabolism, platelet aggregation, apoptosis, and protein prenylation.Some examples of oxysterols include:*...
  
   or oxidized-rich cholesterol micelles  and prevents their uptake by the intestinal enterocyte
  Enterocyte
  Enterocytes, or intestinal absorptive cells, are simple columnar epithelial cells found in the small intestines and colon. A glycocalyx surface coat contains digestive enzymes. Microvilli on the apical surface increase surface area for the digestion and transport of molecules from the intestinal...
  
  . The antibody-bound micelle is then removed through fecal clearance.