To further investigate cholesterol biosynthesis in CQ-induced LCD, we inhibited HMGCR—a rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis—with Ato, or saturated cellular membranes with water-soluble cholesterol.36, 37Figure 4d shows that Ato exacerbates CQ-induced cell death, whereas cholesterol is significantly protective. This evidence concerns the gene HMGCR and lattice corneal dystrophy type I.