HSD17B7 is required for the function of sensory hair cells by regulating cholesterol synthesis (opens in new tab)

Cholesterol homeostasis is fundamental to cellular function, and its disruption underlies a wide range of human diseases. However, the contribution of cholesterol biosynthesis to auditory physiology remains poorly understood. HSD17B7 (17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 7) catalyzes the conversion of zymosterone to zymosterol, a key step in the post-lanosterol cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Here, we found that Hsd17b7 is highly enriched in sensory hair cells of zebrafish and mice. The de...