Cholesteryl palmitate is a cholesterol ester. It is a major cholesterol ester found in human meibum and has been used to form a stable tear film to study amphiphilic block copolymers as surfactants for dry eyes.1 Cholesteryl palmitate levels in amniotic fluid are decreased in pregnancies in which infants later developed respiratory distress syndrome and in patients with well-controlled diabetes.2,3 Levels of cholesteryl palmitate are increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with chronic interstitial pneumonia.4
1.Shine, W.E., and McCulley, J.P.Polar lipids in human meibomian gland secretionsCurr. Eye Res.26(2)89-94(2003) 2.Ludmir, J., Alvarez, J.G., Mennuti, M.T., et al.Cholesteryl palmitate as a predictor of fetal lung maturityAm. J. Obstet. Gynecol.157(1)84-88(1987) 3.Ludmir, J., Alvarez, J.G., Landon, M.B., et al.Amniotic fluid cholesteryl palmitate in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitusObstet. Gynecol.73(3 Pt.1)360-362(1988) 4.Fukuhara, N., Tachihara, M., Tanino, Y., et al.Cholesteryl palmitate crystals in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid smears as a possible prognostic biomarker for chronic interstitial pneumonia: A preliminary studyRespir. Investig.54(2)109-115(2016)