Cyp46-mediated cholesterol loss promotes survival in stressed hippocampal neurons

The translational potential of cholesterol-based therapies for neurological disease

Cholesterol is an important metabolite and membrane component and is enriched in the brain owing to its role in neuronal maturation and function. In the adult brain, cholesterol is produced locally, predominantly by astrocytes. When cholesterol has been used, recycled and catabolized, the derivatives are excreted across the blood-brain barrier. Abnormalities in any of these steps can lead to neurological dysfunction. Here, we examine how precise interactions between cholesterol production and its use and catabolism in neurons ensures cholesterol homeostasis to support brain function. As an example of a neurological disease associated with cholesterol dyshomeostasis, we summarize evidence from animal models of Huntington disease (HD), which demonstrate a marked reduction in cholesterol biosynthesis with clinically relevant consequences for synaptic activity and cognition. In addition, we examine the relationship between cholesterol loss in the brain and cognitive decline in ageing. We then present emerging therapeutic strategies to restore cholesterol homeostasis, focusing on evidence from HD mouse models.

Cholesterol efflux regulator ABCA1 exerts protective role against high shear stress-induced injury of HBMECs via regulating PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling

Background

In brain, microvascular endothelial cells are exposed to various forces, including shear stress (SS). However, little is known about the effects of high shear stress (HSS) on human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) and the underlying mechanism. The cholesterol efflux regulator ATP-binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1) has been demonstrated to exert protective effect on HBMECs. However, whether ABCA1 is involved in the mechanism underneath the effect of HSS on HBMECs remains obscure. In the present study, a series of experiments were performed to better understand the effect of HSS on cellular processes of HBMECs and the possible involvement of ABCA1 and PI3K/Akt/eNOS in the underlying mechanisms.

Results

HBMECs were subjected to physiological SS (PSS) or high SS (HSS). Cell migration was evaluated using Transwell assay. Apoptotic HBMECs were detected by flow cytometry or caspase3/7 activity. IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1 and TNF-α levels were measured by ELISA. RT-qPCR and western blotting were used for mRNA and protein expression detection, respectively. ROS and NO levels were detected using specific detection kits. Compared to PSS, HBMECs exhibited decreased cell viability and migration and increased cell apoptosis, increased levels of inflammatory cytokines, and improved ROS and NO productions after HSS treatment. Moreover, HSS downregulated ABCA1 but upregulated the cholesterol efflux-related proteins MMP9, AQP4, and CYP46 and activated PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway. Overexpression of ABCA1 in HBMECS inhibited PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway and counteracted the deleterious effects of HSS. Contrary effects were observed by ABCA1 silencing. Inhibiting PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway mimicked ABCA1 effects, suggesting that ABCA1 protects HBMECs from HSS via PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling.

Conclusion

These results advanced our understanding on the mechanisms of HSS on HBMECs and potentiated ABCA1/PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway as therapeutic target for cerebrovascular diseases.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12868-022-00748-2.

Plasma membrane and brain dysfunction of the old: Do we age from our membranes?

One of the characteristics of aging is a gradual hypo-responsiveness of cells to extrinsic stimuli, mainly evident in the pathways that are under hormone control, both in the brain and in peripheral tissues. Age-related resistance, i.e., reduced response of receptors to their ligands, has been shown to Insulin and also to leptin, thyroid hormones and glucocorticoids. In addition, lower activity has been reported in aging for ß-adrenergic receptors, adenosine A2B receptor, and several other G-protein-coupled receptors. One of the mechanisms proposed to explain the loss of sensitivity to hormones and neurotransmitters with age is the loss of receptors, which has been observed in several tissues. Another mechanism that is finding more and more experimental support is related to the changes that occur with age in the lipid composition of the neuronal plasma membrane, which are responsible for changes in the receptors’ coupling efficiency to ligands, signal attenuation and pathway desensitization. In fact, recent works have shown that altered membrane composition—as occurs during neuronal aging—underlies reduced response to glutamate, to the neurotrophin BDNF, and to insulin, all these leading to cognition decay and epigenetic alterations in the old. In this review we present evidence that altered functions of membrane receptors due to altered plasma membrane properties may be a triggering factor in physiological decline, decreased brain function, and increased vulnerability to neuropathology in aging.

Cholesterol as a key player in amyloid β-mediated toxicity in Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is one of the most devastating and widespread diseases worldwide, mainly affecting the aging population. One of the key factors contributing to AD-related neurotoxicity is the production and aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ). Many studies have shown the ability of Aβ to bind to the cell membrane and disrupt its structure, leading to cell death. Because amyloid damage affects different parts of the brain differently, it seems likely that not only Aβ but also the nature of the membrane interface with which the amyloid interacts, helps determine the final neurotoxic effect. Because cholesterol is the dominant component of the plasma membrane, it plays an important role in Aβ-induced toxicity. Elevated cholesterol levels and their regulation by statins have been shown to be important factors influencing the progression of neurodegeneration. However, data from many studies have shown that cholesterol has both neuroprotective and aggravating effects in relation to the development of AD. In this review, we attempt to summarize recent findings on the role of cholesterol in Aβ toxicity mediated by membrane binding in the pathogenesis of AD and to consider it in the broader context of the lipid composition of cell membranes.

Altered Cholesterol Homeostasis in Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by an expansion of the CAG repeat in the first exon of Huntingtin’s gene. The associated neurodegeneration mainly affects the striatum and the cortex at early stages and progressively spreads to other brain structures. Targeting HD at its earlier stages is under intense investigation. Numerous drugs were tested, with a rate of success of only 3.5% approved molecules used as symptomatic treatment. The restoration of cholesterol metabolism, which is central to the brain homeostasis and strongly altered in HD, could be an interesting disease-modifying strategy. Cholesterol is an essential membrane component in the central nervous system (CNS); alterations of its homeostasis have deleterious consequences on neuronal functions. The levels of several sterols, upstream of cholesterol, are markedly decreased within the striatum of HD mouse model. Transcription of cholesterol biosynthetic genes is reduced in HD cell and mouse models as well as post-mortem striatal and cortical tissues from HD patients. Since the dynamic of brain cholesterol metabolism is complex, it is essential to establish the best method to target it in HD. Cholesterol, which does not cross the blood-brain-barrier, is locally synthesized and renewed within the brain. All cell types in the CNS synthesize cholesterol during development but as they progress through adulthood, neurons down-regulate their cholesterol synthesis and turn to astrocytes for their full supply. Cellular levels of cholesterol reflect the dynamic balance between synthesis, uptake and export, all integrated into the context of the cross talk between neurons and glial cells. In this review, we describe the latest advances regarding the role of cholesterol deregulation in neuronal functions and how this could be a determinant factor in neuronal degeneration and HD progression. The pathways and major mechanisms by which cholesterol and sterols are regulated in the CNS will be described. From this overview, we discuss the main clinical strategies for manipulating cholesterol metabolism in the CNS, and how to reinstate a proper balance in HD.

Increased exosome secretion in neurons aging in vitro by NPC1-mediated endosomal cholesterol buildup

The present study unveils the molecular mechanism through which neurons in vitro compensate age-associated proteostasis defects by increasing exosome release.

As neurons age, they show a decrease in their ability to degrade proteins and membranes. Because undegraded material is a source of toxic products, defects in degradation are associated with reduced cell function and survival. However, there are very few dead neurons in the aging brain, suggesting the action of compensatory mechanisms. We show in this work that ageing neurons in culture show large multivesicular bodies (MVBs) filled with intralumenal vesicles (ILVs) and secrete more small extracellular vesicles than younger neurons. We also show that the high number of ILVs is the consequence of the accumulation of cholesterol in MVBs, which in turn is due to decreased levels of the cholesterol extruding protein NPC1. NPC1 down-regulation is the consequence of a combination of upregulation of the NPC1 repressor microRNA 33, and increased degradation, due to Akt-mTOR targeting of NPC1 to the phagosome. Although releasing more exosomes can be beneficial to old neurons, other cells, neighbouring and distant, can be negatively affected by the waste material they contain.

One Raft to Guide Them All, and in Axon Regeneration Inhibit Them

Central nervous system damage caused by traumatic injuries, iatrogenicity due to surgical interventions, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases is one of the most prevalent reasons for physical disability worldwide. During development, axons must elongate from the neuronal cell body to contact their precise target cell and establish functional connections. However, the capacity of the adult nervous system to restore its functionality after injury is limited. Given the inefficacy of the nervous system to heal and regenerate after damage, new therapies are under investigation to enhance axonal regeneration. Axon guidance cues and receptors, as well as the molecular machinery activated after nervous system damage, are organized into lipid raft microdomains, a term typically used to describe nanoscale membrane domains enriched in cholesterol and glycosphingolipids that act as signaling platforms for certain transmembrane proteins. Here, we systematically review the most recent findings that link the stability of lipid rafts and their composition with the capacity of axons to regenerate and rebuild functional neural circuits after damage.

Up-regulation of APP endocytosis by neuronal aging drives amyloid dependent-synapse loss

Neuronal aging increases the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. During normal aging, synapses decline, and β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulates intraneuronally. However, little is known about the underlying cell biological mechanisms. We studied normal neuronal aging using normal aged brain and aged mouse primary neurons that accumulate lysosomal lipofuscin and show synapse loss. We identify the up-regulation of amyloid precursor protein (APP) endocytosis as a neuronal aging mechanism that potentiates APP processing and Aβ production in vitro and in vivo. The increased APP endocytosis may contribute to the observed early endosomes enlargement in the aged brain. Mechanistically, we show that clathrin-dependent APP endocytosis requires F-actin and that clathrin and endocytic F-actin increase with neuronal aging. Finally, Aβ production inhibition reverts synaptic decline in aged neurons while Aβ accumulation, promoted by endocytosis up-regulation in younger neurons, recapitulates aging-related synapse decline. Overall, we identify APP endocytosis up-regulation as a potential mechanism of neuronal aging and, thus, a novel target to prevent late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

LincRNA Plays a Role in the Effect of CYP46A1 Polymorphism in Alzheimer's Disease - Related Pathology

Polymorphism of the cholesterol-24S-hydroxylase (CYP46A1) gene is thought to be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A single nucleotide polymorphism (T/C) in intron 2, rs754203, has been confirmed to be implicated in AD. Rs754203 is located in the long intronic non-coding RNA (LincRNA) sequence, which has previously been shown to be involved in the pathology of many diseases. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the role of LincRNA in the CYP46A1 gene expression and related AD pathology. SH-SY5Y cells with overexpressed TT or CC genotype CYP46A1 were used. Through RT-PCR, Western blot and ELISA assays, we found that LincRNA can affect the CYP46A1 gene expression and the production of 24-OHC and Aβ. Overexpression of LincRNA can significantly inhibit CYP46A1 expression and 24-OHC production, as well as increasing the Aβ expression level. Silencing of LincRNA confirmed the role that it plays in the regulation of CYP46A1, as well as the production of 24-OHC and Aβ. In addition, this effect was stronger in the A type LincRNA than in the G type LincRNA. Results from dual luciferase assays show that LincRNA inhibited the activity of the CYP46A1 gene promoter. This study indicates a possible novel role of LincRNA and provides a new way to look into the relationship between CYP46A1 polymorphism and AD pathology. This may identify a novel pathway through which to explore AD therapy.

Aging Increases Hippocampal DUSP2 by a Membrane Cholesterol Loss-Mediated RTK/p38MAPK Activation Mechanism

Numerous studies suggest that the increased activity of p38MAPK plays an important role in the abnormal immune and inflammatory response observed in the course of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. On the other hand, high levels of p38MAPK are present in the brain during normal aging, suggesting the existence of mechanisms that keep the p38MAPK-regulated pro-inflammatory activity within physiological limits. In this study, we show that high p38MAPK activity in the hippocampus of old mice is in part due to the reduction in membrane cholesterol that constitutively occurs in the aging brain. Mechanistically, membrane cholesterol reduction increases p38MAPK activity through the stimulation of a subset of tyrosine kinase receptors (RTKs). In turn, activated p38MAPK increases the expression and activity of the phosphatase DUSP2, which is known to reduce the activity of different MAPKs, including p38MAPK. These results suggest that the loss of membrane cholesterol that constitutively occurs with age takes part in a negative-feedback loop that keeps p38MAPK activity levels within physiological range. Thus, conditions that increase p38MAPK activity such as cellular stressors or that inhibit DUSP2 will amplify inflammatory activity with its consequent deleterious functional changes.

Amyloid and membrane complexity: The toxic interplay revealed by AFM

Lipid membranes play a fundamental role in the pathological development of protein misfolding diseases. Several pieces of evidence suggest that the lipid membrane could act as a catalytic surface for protein aggregation. Furthermore, a leading theory indicates the interaction between the cell membrane and misfolded oligomer species as the responsible for cytotoxicity, hence, for neurodegeneration in disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The definition of the mechanisms that drive the interaction between pathological protein aggregates and plasma membrane is fundamental for the development of effective therapies for a large class of diseases. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been employed to study how amyloid aggregates affect the cell physiological properties. Considerable efforts were spent to characterize the interaction with model systems, i.e., planar supported lipid bilayers, but some works also addressed the problem directly on living cells. Here, an overview of the main works involving the use of the AFM on both model system and living cells will be provided. Different kind of approaches will be presented, as well as the main results derived from the AFM analysis.

Cholesterol 24-hydroxylase: Brain cholesterol metabolism and beyond

Dysfunctions in brain cholesterol homeostasis have been extensively related to brain disorders. The major elimination pathway of brain cholesterol is its hydroxylation into 24 (S)-hydroxycholesterol by the cholesterol 24-hydroxylase (CYP46A1). Interestingly, there seems to be an association between CYP46A1 and high-order brain functions, in a sense that increased expression of this hydroxylase improves cognition, while a reduction leads to a poor cognitive performance. Moreover, increasing amount of epidemiological, biochemical and molecular evidence, suggests that CYP46A1 has a role in the pathogenesis or progression of neurodegenerative disorders, in which up-regulation of this enzyme is clearly beneficial. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are poorly understood, which highlights the importance of studies that further explore the role of CYP46A1 in the central nervous system. In this review we summarize the major findings regarding CYP46A1, and highlight the several recently described pathways modulated by this enzyme from a physiological and pathological perspective, which might account for novel therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative disorders.

A diet enriched with plant sterols prevents the memory impairment induced by cholesterol loss in senescence-accelerated mice

Cholesterol reduction at the neuronal plasma membrane has been related to age-dependent cognitive decline. We have used senescent-accelerated mice strain 8 (SAMP8), an animal model for aging, to examine the association between cholesterol loss and cognitive impairment and to test strategies to revert this process. We show that the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice presents reduced cholesterol levels and enhanced amount of its degrading enzyme Cyp46A1 (Cyp46) already at 6 months of age. Cholesterol loss accounts for the impaired long-term potentiation in these mice. Plant sterol (PSE)-enriched diet prevents long-term potentiation impairment and cognitive deficits in SAMP8 mice without altering cholesterol levels. PSE diet also reduces the abnormally high amyloid peptide levels in SAMP8 mice brains and restores membrane compartmentalization of presenilin1, the catalytic component of the amyloidogenic γ-secretase. These results highlight the influence of cholesterol loss in age-related cognitive decline and provide with a noninvasive strategy to counteract it. Our results suggest that PSE overtake cholesterol functions in the brain contributing to reduce deleterious consequences of cholesterol loss during aging.

Amyloid beta oligomers induce neuronal elasticity changes in age-dependent manner: a force spectroscopy study on living hippocampal neurons

Small soluble species of amyloid-beta (Aβ) formed during early peptide aggregation stages are responsible for several neurotoxic mechanisms relevant to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), although their interaction with the neuronal membrane is not completely understood. This study quantifies the changes in the neuronal membrane elasticity induced by treatment with the two most common Aβ isoforms found in AD brains: Aβ40 and Aβ42. Using quantitative atomic force microscopy (AFM), we measured for the first time the static elastic modulus of living primary hippocampal neurons treated with pre-aggregated Aβ40 and Aβ42 soluble species. Our AFM results demonstrate changes in the elasticity of young, mature and aged neurons treated for a short time with the two Aβ species pre-aggregated for 2 hours. Neurons aging under stress conditions, showing aging hallmarks, are the most susceptible to amyloid binding and show the largest decrease in membrane stiffness upon Aβ treatment. Membrane stiffness defines the way in which cells respond to mechanical forces in their environment and has been shown to be important for processes such as gene expression, ion-channel gating and neurotransmitter vesicle transport. Thus, one can expect that changes in neuronal membrane elasticity might directly induce functional changes related to neurodegeneration.

LTP-triggered cholesterol redistribution activates Cdc42 and drives AMPA receptor synaptic delivery

Cholesterol acts as a sensor of NMDA receptor activation and as a trigger of downstream signaling by engaging small GTPase activation and AMPA receptor synaptic delivery during long-term potentiation.

Neurotransmitter receptor trafficking during synaptic plasticity requires the concerted action of multiple signaling pathways and the protein transport machinery. However, little is known about the contribution of lipid metabolism during these processes. In this paper, we addressed the question of the role of cholesterol in synaptic changes during long-term potentiation (LTP). We found that N-methyl-d-aspartate–type glutamate receptor (NMDAR) activation during LTP induction leads to a rapid and sustained loss or redistribution of intracellular cholesterol in the neuron. A reduction in cholesterol, in turn, leads to the activation of Cdc42 and the mobilization of GluA1-containing α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid–type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) from Rab11-recycling endosomes into the synaptic membrane, leading to synaptic potentiation. This process is accompanied by an increase of NMDAR function and an enhancement of LTP. These results imply that cholesterol acts as a sensor of NMDAR activation and as a trigger of downstream signaling to engage small GTPase (guanosine triphosphatase) activation and AMPAR synaptic delivery during LTP.

Constitutive hippocampal cholesterol loss underlies poor cognition in old rodents

Cognitive decline is one of the many characteristics of aging. Reduced long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) are thought to be responsible for this decline, although the precise mechanisms underlying LTP and LTD dampening in the old remain unclear. We previously showed that aging is accompanied by the loss of cholesterol from the hippocampus, which leads to PI3K/Akt phosphorylation. Given that Akt de-phosphorylation is required for glutamate receptor internalization and LTD, we hypothesized that the decrease in cholesterol in neuronal membranes may contribute to the deficits in LTD typical of aging. Here, we show that cholesterol loss triggers p-Akt accumulation, which in turn perturbs the normal cellular and molecular responses induced by LTD, such as impaired AMPA receptor internalization and its reduced lateral diffusion. Electrophysiology recordings in brain slices of old mice and in anesthetized elderly rats demonstrate that the reduced hippocampal LTD associated with age can be rescued by cholesterol perfusion. Accordingly, cholesterol replenishment in aging animals improves hippocampal-dependent learning and memory in the water maze test.

Cholesterol in brain disease: sometimes determinant and frequently implicated

Cholesterol is essential for neuronal physiology, both during development and in the adult life: as a major component of cell membranes and precursor of steroid hormones, it contributes to the regulation of ion permeability, cell shape, cell-cell interaction, and transmembrane signaling. Consistently, hereditary diseases with mutations in cholesterol-related genes result in impaired brain function during early life. In addition, defects in brain cholesterol metabolism may contribute to neurological syndromes, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD), and Parkinson's disease (PD), and even to the cognitive deficits typical of the old age. In these cases, brain cholesterol defects may be secondary to disease-causing elements and contribute to the functional deficits by altering synaptic functions. In the first part of this review, we will describe hereditary and non-hereditary causes of cholesterol dyshomeostasis and the relationship to brain diseases. In the second part, we will focus on the mechanisms by which perturbation of cholesterol metabolism can affect synaptic function.

Prion protein accumulation in lipid rafts of mouse aging brain

The cellular form of the prion protein (PrP^C) is a normal constituent of neuronal cell membranes. The protein misfolding causes rare neurodegenerative disorders known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies or prion diseases. These maladies can be sporadic, genetic or infectious. Sporadic prion diseases are the most common form mainly affecting aging people. In this work, we investigate the biochemical environment in which sporadic prion diseases may develop, focusing our attention on the cell membrane of neurons in the aging brain. It is well established that with aging the ratio between the most abundant lipid components of rafts undergoes a major change: while cholesterol decreases, sphingomyelin content rises. Our results indicate that the aging process modifies the compartmentalization of PrP^C. In old mice, this change favors PrP^C accumulation in detergent-resistant membranes, particularly in hippocampi. To confirm the relationship between lipid content changes and PrP^C translocation into detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs), we looked at PrP^C compartmentalization in hippocampi from acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) knockout (KO) mice and synaptosomes enriched in sphingomyelin. In the presence of high sphingomyelin content, we observed a significant increase of PrP^C in DRMS. This process is not due to higher levels of total protein and it could, in turn, favor the onset of sporadic prion diseases during aging as it increases the PrP intermolecular contacts into lipid rafts. We observed that lowering sphingomyelin in scrapie-infected cells by using fumonisin B1 led to a 50% decrease in protease-resistant PrP formation. This may suggest an involvement of PrP lipid environment in prion formation and consequently it may play a role in the onset or development of sporadic forms of prion diseases.

Mitochondrial and metabolic-based protective strategies in Huntington's disease: the case of creatine and coenzyme Q

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder caused by an expansion of CAG repeats in the HD gene encoding for huntingtin (Htt), resulting in progressive death of striatal neurons, with clinical symptoms of chorea, dementia and dramatic weight loss. Metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction caused by the expanded polyglutamine sequence have been described along with other mechanisms of neurodegeneration previously described in human tissues and animal models of HD. In this review, we focus on mitochondrial and metabolic disturbances affecting both the central nervous system and peripheral cells, including mitochondrial DNA damage, mitochondrial complexes defects, loss of calcium homeostasis and transcriptional deregulation. Glucose abnormalities have also been described in peripheral tissues of HD patients and in HD animal and cellular models. Moreover, there are no effective neuroprotective treatments available in HD. Thus, we briefly discuss the role of creatine and coenzyme Q10 that target mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired bioenergetics and have been previously used in HD clinical trials.

SIRT2 inhibition achieves neuroprotection by decreasing sterol biosynthesis

Huntington's disease (HD), an incurable neurodegenerative disorder, has a complex pathogenesis including protein aggregation and the dysregulation of neuronal transcription and metabolism. Here, we demonstrate that inhibition of sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) achieves neuroprotection in cellular and invertebrate models of HD. Genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of SIRT2 in a striatal neuron model of HD resulted in gene expression changes including significant down-regulation of RNAs responsible for sterol biosynthesis. Whereas mutant huntingtin fragments increased sterols in neuronal cells, SIRT2 inhibition reduced sterol levels via decreased nuclear trafficking of SREBP-2. Importantly, manipulation of sterol biosynthesis at the transcriptional level mimicked SIRT2 inhibition, demonstrating that the metabolic effects of SIRT2 inhibition are sufficient to diminish mutant huntingtin toxicity. These data identify SIRT2 inhibition as a promising avenue for HD therapy and elucidate a unique mechanism of SIRT2-inhibitor-mediated neuroprotection. Furthermore, the ascertainment of SIRT2's role in regulating cellular metabolism demonstrates a central function shared with other sirtuin proteins.

Oxidative stress activates the pro-survival TrkA pathway through membrane cholesterol loss

Neuronal activity is a highly demanding energetic process, resulting in the gradual accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Despite comparatively weak anti-oxidant defence systems, neurons outlive the pressure of ROS by activating most robust anti-stress mechanisms. We recently showed that one such mechanism is the activation of the TrkB receptor pathway, in turn determined by the loss of membrane cholesterol. It is not known however what causes the loss of membrane cholesterol. We here show that in differentiated PC12 cells induction of ROS is paralleled by a moderate loss of membrane cholesterol and the activation of the pro-survival TrkA receptor. Pharmacological reduction of cholesterol in non-stressed cells triggers TrkA activation while cholesterol replenishment inhibits receptor activation induced by stress. Moreover, addition of a ROS inhibitor prevented cholesterol loss and receptor activation under stress. These results highlight cholesterol loss as a compensatory protective mechanism against acute stress.