Impairment of trophoblast survival and differentiation by LXR ligands is prevented by cholesterol but not ABCA1 silencing

Oxysterols and LXR inhibit trophoblast survival and differentiation exclusively in conditions of cholesterol scarcity. These findings underscore the importance of cholesterol homeostasis in the maintenance of placental function and suggest that pathways regulating cholesterol homeostasis may represent therapeutic targets to mitigate harmful sequelae of placental injury.