Comparison of cholesterol and sitosterol uptake in different brush border membrane models

The differences between cholesterol and plant sterol sitosterol uptake in the brush border was investigated through the utilization of comparative study of sterol uptake by brush border membrane vesicles and sterol absorption by Caco-2 cells. Results have shown that detection of possible inhibitory effects on cholesterol uptake can occur only at the presence of large amounts of sitosterol contents in the donor. The mechanism of energy-independent uptake of sitosterol mimics that of the cholesterol.