Abstract: Cholesterol has the property of forming crystals,and cholesterol crystalrelated kidney damage includes cholesterol crystal embolic nephropathy and renal tubular interstitial cholesterol crystalrelated damage.In early stage of atheromatous plaque formation,cholesterol crystals have formed,which played an important role in progress of plaque.Cholesterol crystals cause physical damages at the core of plaque and promote cell apoptosis,and cause local and systemic inflammation.The shedding of atherosclerotic plaques of larger arteries and embolization to renal arterioles can induce cholesterol crystal embolism nephropathy,and it is not uncommon to have cholesterol crystals or cholesterol granulomas in renal tubules or interstitium.This article reviews the process of cholesterol metabolism in cells, reasons for formation of cholesterol crystals in atherosclerotic plaques,cellular molecular mechanism of cholesterol crystals induced inflammation,and the performance of cholesterol crystals related kidney injury.

Key words: cholesterol crystals, inflammation, atheromatous plaque, cholesterol craystal-related kidney