Sterol-O-acyltransferase-1 has a role in kidney disease associated with diabetes and Alport syndrome.

Defective cholesterol metabolism primarily linked to reduced ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expression is closely associated with the pathogenesis and progression of kidney diseases, including diabetic kidney disease and Alport Syndrome. However, whether the accumulation of free or esterified cholesterol contributes to progression in kidney disease remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that inhibition of sterol-O-acyltransferase-1 (SOAT1), the enzyme at the endoplasmic reticulum that converts free cholesterol to cholesterol esters, which are then stored in lipid droplets, effectively reduced cholesterol ester and lipid droplet formation in human podocytes.